Alternative names: Rueppell's Warbler
- Sylvia rueppelli
Identification
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
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].
Forms a superspecies with Cyprus Warbler sharing dark throats, white malar streaks and light 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.2
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
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2019)
- Avian Web
- Birdforum thread discussing identifications of female Rüppell's Warbler
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rüppell's Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 6 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/R%C3%BCppell%27s_Warbler
