Iberian chiffchaff?? Uk (1 Viewer)

[IGrant]

Hi.

I'm looking for opinions regarding a possible iberian chiffchaff I heard recently. Having no previous experience with the call I'd appreciate any help. The bird was calling in the uk. I know the audio isn't great.

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[dwatsonbirder]

Interesting bird IGrant (welcome to BirdForum btw). I undoubtedly have less experience with Iberian chiff than others, so please take my comments with a pinch of salt.
Though the song doesn't sound classic, the phrasing, pitch and three separate 'stanza's' sound reasonable, and perhaps could be interpreted as plasticity in the song. Presumably the photographed bird is the subject? Nice bright super, yellowish tones to the underparts and sullied breast band are also all pro-Iberian. Would be worth getting more photos (folded wing in particular) and sound recordings - a siskin-like call is also a good detail in support of Iberian.
Hope this helps!

 

[IGrant]

Hi
Thank you for your insight.
That's the best of the sound recordings I have of the bird (that I'm not swearing in).
The photos are of the individual. But hopefully these nay help.
I've heard a lot of chiffchaff over the years with a few aberrant calls but this was consistent. I know there's usually a slight trill at the end with a siberian but not always.

 

[Phil Andrews]

Not that I always trust it but the Merlin app has it as Iberian Chiffchaff. Whereabouts in the country?

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Nice yellow vent in 266 too - get back out there and seal the deal, it's an excellent candidate, and the song may develop into the classic three part Iberian (I'm guessing Siberian was autocorrect/typo?) if the bird lingers a while. Recordings of the contact call should be enough, but again, closed wing shots to establish how the primaries fall would be useful.
Nice find!

 

[IGrant]

Hi.
Yes definitely a typo.
The bird was in nanquidno valley in Cornwall.
I didn't manage to hear a contact call and unfortunately can't improve on the photos.
It could still be there but it's not a place birds hang around as they're usually moving through.
I'll put it down as a maybe.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

As said above, the 3-part song: ‘Chiff-Chiff-Chiff Wheet-wheet-wheet doodley-doodley-doo’ (at least to my ears) sounds good.
The only thing is it could be Common Chiffchaff that has heard Iberian and is copying it, in which case it may revert to regular Chiffchaff song, or it is Iberian and will give a fuller even more convincing song once it settles in.

 

[IGrant]

The only contact calls came from a chiff in the Same area.

 

[IGrant]

All the input is much appreciated!
I'll get down there again after the Easter traffic has dissipated! Worth a try.

 

[Phil Andrews]

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