Page 335 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WARBLERS AND ALLIES
Order Passeriformes Family Sylviidae Species Phylloscopus trochilus
Willow Warbler narrow
pale stripe
over eye short, thin
bill
strong yellow
plain, stripe over eye thin dark
round eye-stripe
wings
brighter,
greener back grey-green to olive-
brown upperparts
long wing
point
ADULT much
yellower
underside buff-white
to pale
IN FLIGHT JUVENILE yellow
underside
he Phylloscopus
Twarblers are small, slim
birds of trees and bushes, able to slip
quietly through foliage without the
bounce and erratic agility of the small tits or pale yellowish
brown legs
the heavier progress of the larger Sylvia warblers.
European breeding species are basically pale green and ADULT
yellowish.The Willow Warbler is generally most
common and most widespread, and more conservative
in its choice of habitat than most. In spring, it has a fine, FLIGHT: quick, light, bouncy flitting action over
simple, and beautifully evocative song. Like other short distances.
warblers, it is more or less solitary except when feeding SIGN OF SPRING
young, or when a handful coincidentally feed A Willow Warbler’s beautiful, fluid
in the same tree while on migration.Willow cadence is a sure sign of spring:
Warblers are more grey-brown above and dull in April, dozens may appear
white below, less green and yellow, in the far overnight and start singing.
north and northeast of Europe.
VOICE Sweet, simple, double call hoo-eet; song
lovely, cascading, trilling warble, rising, full
notes then falling thinner and fading away
with slight flourish.
NESTING Small, domed nest of grass on or
near ground in thick cover; 6 or 7 eggs;
1 brood;April–May.
FEEDING Picks insects and spiders from foliage, slipping gently and easily through
leaves; catches some flies in air.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Breeds everywhere north from
mid-France and C Europe except
CHIFFCHAFF rounder cleaner plainer head for Iceland. Present from April to
see p.336 head green
October; common migrant in
thin eye- S Europe. Prefers light woodland,
ring
whiter scrub, and bushes of all kinds,
yellow especially birch and willow, but
on chest below
short wings white on not often gardens.
belly
spindly WOOD WARBLER BONELLI’S WARBLER Seen in the UK
blackish legs see p.334 see p.335 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 11cm (4 1 ⁄4in) Wingspan 17–22cm (6 1 ⁄2 –9in) Weight 6–10g ( 7 ⁄32 – 3 ⁄8oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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