• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Difference between revisions of "Common Chiffchaff" - BirdForum Opus

(Photo caption. Reference updated)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:Common_Chiffchaff.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Rayh|Rayh}}<br>Location: Spurn Point]]
 
 
'''Alternative name: Eurasian Chiffchaff'''
 
'''Alternative name: Eurasian Chiffchaff'''
 +
[[Image:Common_Chiffchaff.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Rayh|Rayh}}<br />[[Spurn Peninsula|Spurn Point]], October 2003]]
 
;[[:Category:Phylloscopus|Phylloscopus]] collybita
 
;[[:Category:Phylloscopus|Phylloscopus]] collybita
 
'''Includes: Siberian Chiffchaff'''
 
'''Includes: Siberian Chiffchaff'''
 
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
 
10-12 cm<br />
 
10-12 cm<br />
Line 11: Line 10:
 
*Short white supercilium
 
*Short white supercilium
 
*Fine dark bill and legs
 
*Fine dark bill and legs
 +
[[Image:WillowChiff.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Chiffchaff on the left and Willow Warbler on the right<br /> Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}]]
 
====Confusion Species====
 
====Confusion Species====
[[Image:WillowChiff.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Chiffchaff on the left and Willow Warbler on the right<br /> Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}]]
 
 
See [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=15579 this discussion thread] for differences between Chiffchaff and [[Willow Warbler]].
 
See [http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=15579 this discussion thread] for differences between Chiffchaff and [[Willow Warbler]].
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
Breeds thoughout much of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], wintering in south and west Europe, southern Asia and northern [[Africa]].
 
Breeds thoughout much of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], wintering in south and west Europe, southern Asia and northern [[Africa]].
Line 36: Line 34:
 
''Tristis'' is sometimes accepted as full species, called '''Siberian Chiffchaff'''.<br />
 
''Tristis'' is sometimes accepted as full species, called '''Siberian Chiffchaff'''.<br />
 
The [[Canary Islands Chiffchaff]] and the [[Iberian Chiffchaff]] have been considered conspecific with this species.
 
The [[Canary Islands Chiffchaff]] and the [[Iberian Chiffchaff]] have been considered conspecific with this species.
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Open woodlands, tall trees are required for singing in the breeding season. Low shrubs, brambles etc for nesting.  
 
Open woodlands, tall trees are required for singing in the breeding season. Low shrubs, brambles etc for nesting.  
Line 52: Line 49:
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
 
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
 
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Wikipedia
==References==
+
{{ref}}
Wikipedia
 
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
{{GSearch|Phylloscopus+collybita}}
 
{{GSearch|Phylloscopus+collybita}}

Revision as of 20:41, 28 February 2011

Alternative name: Eurasian Chiffchaff

Photo by Rayh
Spurn Point, October 2003
Phylloscopus collybita

Includes: Siberian Chiffchaff

Identification

10-12 cm

  • Greenish olive-brown upperparts
  • Off-white underpart
  • Yellowish flanks
  • Short white supercilium
  • Fine dark bill and legs
Chiffchaff on the left and Willow Warbler on the right
Photo by Steve G

Confusion Species

See this discussion thread for differences between Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Distribution

Breeds thoughout much of Europe and Asia, wintering in south and west Europe, southern Asia and northern Africa.

Very patchy distribution in Scotland.

Taxonomy

Six subspecies are recognized:[1]

  • P. c. abietinus:
  • P. c. collybita:
  • P. c. brevirostris:
  • Highlands of western Turkey and Black Sea coastlands of northern Turkey
  • P. c. caucasicus:
  • East of range of brevirostris at lower elevations south to Armenia
  • P. c. menzbieri:
  • Mountains of north-eastern Iran, eastern Elburz and Khorasan mountains n to adjacent Turkmenia
  • P. c. tristis:
  • Ural Mountains to north-eastern Iran, northern India and Bangladesh

Tristis is sometimes accepted as full species, called Siberian Chiffchaff.
The Canary Islands Chiffchaff and the Iberian Chiffchaff have been considered conspecific with this species.

Habitat

Open woodlands, tall trees are required for singing in the breeding season. Low shrubs, brambles etc for nesting.

Behaviour

Flicks tail, downwards (this habit is not seen in Willow Warbler).

Breeding

The female builds a domed nest with a side entrance, made from dead leaves and grass. Two to seven cream eggs with reddish-purple or blackish spots, are laid and incubated by the female for 13–14 days; the female cares for the young for about two weeks until they fledge.

Diet

The diet includes insects.

Vocalisation

Song: the most reliable way to distinguish from Willow Warbler. It sings its name chiff chaff, chiff chaff, though sometimes mixes up to chiff chiff, chaff, chaff.
Call: a soft wheett <flashmp3>Phylloscopus collybita (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
  2. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  4. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
  5. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links


Back
Top