Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Hippolais pallida

Photo by john-henry

Description

Location: Lesbos (Greece)

Identification

Formerly considered conspecific with Western Olivaceous Wabler

Status and distribution; Breeds throughout much of the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and the Caucasus. Also breeds on Crete and Cyprus, in the Near East and Iraq. In North Africa breeds in the Sahara, northern parts of Niger and Chad and Egypt in the Nile Delta and Valley and at scattered oases in the west. Formerly included the Western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais opaca from Iberia and North-West Africa. May be resident or partial migrant in Saharan part of range but a summer visitor to most of the Western Palearctic. Leaves breeding areas in mid-July to late-September to winter in sub-Saharan Africa, returning in late-April to May. Before the recent split vagrant Olivaceous Warblers were recorded widely in the Western Palearctic in the British Isles, France and Germany, Sweden, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Italy and Malta, and also on the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands. Many of these will not have been subspecifically identified but most in Europe are probably of the Eastern form now considered a full species. Several older British records have been rejected after a recent review but those that remain (c.10) have been referred to the Eastern form. Most British records have been in the south-west in September-October although there have been records from the Northern Isles and the east coast. Subspecies The four races fall into two groups which could perhaps be better treated as two species. The grey-brown race elaeica occurs in south-eastern Europe and the Near East and the three remaining races are found in North Africa. These three paler races are all very similar and form a distinct group. H.p.reiseri is found in the Sahara and may overlap in range with Western Olivaceous Warbler, laeneni occurs in the northern parts of Niger and Chad and nominate pallida in Egypt. Habitat Shrubs in dunes, semi-desert and other arid areas, often in tamarisk and acacias. Also in cultivated areas, olive-groves, gardens and mangroves.

Brief note

I saw this bird in Cyprus in April 2004. It is not very remarkable but is a typical Hippolais. It's movements are much less active than, say, a chiffchaff's and it is not particularly skulking -- so it is not too difficult to identify. The square-ended tail and rather long sloping forehead immediately distinguish it as a Hippolais. The supercilia are clear but do not extend behind the eye. The bill is not particularly long, and is basically pale. The legs were a mid reddish brown. It was not much bigger than nearby blackcaps.

Originally posted by Surreybirder

Taxonomy

This is a rather confusing entry. The Sibley-Monroe 1996 implemented into the Database did not contemplate race elaeica as a full species and treated it, at that time, as a race of the then Olivaceous Warbler (Hippolais pallida elaeica). The Sibley-Monroe 2003 still does not recognise race elaeica as a specific taxon and still maintains it as Hippolais pallida elaeica. The Clement's 5� Ed. updated 2004 has split off the once associated race opaca of Hippolais pallida and named it Western Olivaceous Warbler and has maintained race elaeica as a subspecies associated with their new Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, i.e., Hippolais pallida elaeica. The Howard & Moore 3� Ed. 2003 while awaiting further explicatory studies of the subspecific taxa within their Olivaceous Warbler - Iduna pallida, still maintain race elaeica associated with this last. For conformity with the Sibley-Monroe integrated into this Database this entry should be amended.

Originally posted by cuckooroller

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Hippolais pallida (song).mp3</flashmp3>
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External Links

• View more images of Olivaceous Warbler in the gallery