Difference between revisions of "Rüppell's Warbler" - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 20:25, 26 May 2019

Photo © by Nigel Kiteley
Lesvos, Greece, April 2009

Alternative names: Rueppell's Warbler

Sylvia rueppelli

Identification

Female, black-spotted throat
Photo © by Scottishdude
Lesvos, Greece, April 2009

14 cam (5½ in); A typical warbler of the genus Sylvia.
Adult

Plain grey back
Paler grey underparts
Fine pointed bill
Brown legs

Male

Black head
Normally shows a black throat, separated by a white malar streak ("moustache"). *Red eye

Female variable:

Pale throat - some have black spots
Head is grey rather than black.
Brownish tinge to grey back
Spotted breast recalls Cyprus Warbler.

Similar Species

Slimmer than the similar Sardinian Warbler, and the song is slower and deeper.

Distribution

Female, plain throat
Photo © by Orvany24
Tel-Aviv, Israel, Spring 2019

They breed (April to September) in southern Greece, western Turkey and neighbouring islands. One noted site is on the coast road between Petra and Molivos on the Greek island of Lesvos.

This is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1]. Some authors place this and many other Sylvia warbler species in the genus Curruca^[6]. Scientific name sometimes spelled Sylvia rueppelli but that is an unwarranted emendation of the original^[3] and no longer accepted.

Habitat

Breeds in warm and dry scrubby areas on rocky areas and hillsides.

Behaviour

Breeding

Their clutch contains 4-6 eggs which are laid in a nest in a bush.

Diet

Their diet consists mostly of adult and larval insects and arthropods, with berries being eaten outside of the breeding season.

Vocalisation

Slower, deeper rattle than the Sardinian Warbler.

Movements

They winter in north east Africa.

References

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
Helbig 2001, Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006
Aymí, R. & Gargallo, G. (2019). Rüppell's Warbler (Sylvia ruppeli). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/58970 on 24 May 2019).
Avian Web
Birdforum thread discussing identifications of female Rüppell's Warbler

List of references

Recommended Citation

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rüppell's Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/R%C3%BCppell%27s_Warbler

External Links

Search for photos of Rüppell's Warbler in the gallery

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 This is a rare vagrant to western [[Europe]].
 ==Taxonomy==
-This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.
+This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.  Some authors place this and many other ''Sylvia'' warbler species in the genus ''Curruca''<sup>[[#References|[6]]]</sup>.  Scientific name sometimes spelled ''Sylvia rueppelli'' but that is an unwarranted emendation of the original<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup> and no longer accepted.
-Forms a [[Dictionary_P-S#S|superspecies]] with [[Cyprus Warbler]] sharing dark throats, white [[Topography#Heads|malar]] streaks and light [[Topography#General Anatomy|remiges]] fringes. Also related to the [[Mediterranean]] and [[Middle East]] Sylvia warblers that have a bare eye-ring ([[Subalpine Warbler]], [[Sardinian Warbler]] and [[Menetries' Warbler]]). Both groups have a white malar area, but this may not form a clear streak in the latter group; above the white, the heads of males are uniformly dark.<sup>[[#References|2]]</sup>
 ==Habitat==