Page 446 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WARBLERS AND ALLIES
Family Sylviidae Species Acrocephalus dumetorum Family Sylviidae Species Acrocephalus agricola
Blyth’s Reed Warbler Paddyfield Warbler
This species is dull and plain in appearance,with This small, pale, reed-type warbler is marked by a
markedly uniform wings.It has a long bill and a pale strong pale stripe over the eye, edged darker above
stripe from the bill to the eye (less clear behind the and below. Its bill is quite short and pale, with a dark
eye). Its wingtips are short and its legs dark (Marsh tip.A rufous rump may be obvious (less so on autumn
Warbler’s are long and pale, respectively; see p.325). juveniles).The short wings, with quite strongly
The wingtips are plain dark (Marsh has sharp pale patterned tertials (dark centres and pale edges), help to
feather edges) and the bill has a pale separate it from Blyth’s Reed Warbler.The unrelated
base,the lower mandible tipped darker pale stripe Booted Warbler can also look very similar.
(completely pale on Marsh). from bill OCCURRENCE
to eye
OCCURRENCE Breeds in NE Europe, Breeds around
rare vagrant in W Europe in summer Black Sea; very
and autumn. rare vagrant in strong pale
VOICE Short, hard, clicking W Europe. stripe over
call; song rich, varied, VOICE Short, eye
each phrase slowly hard tack and
repeated chek notes; fast,
several varied song short
times. with much wingtips
short mimicry.
wingtips

Length 13–14cm (5–5 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 17–19cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7 1 ⁄2in) Length 12–13cm (4 3 ⁄4 –5in) Wingspan 15–17cm (6–6 1 ⁄2in)

Family Sylviidae Species Hippolais olivetorum Family Sylviidae Species Hippolais languida
Olive-tree Warbler Upcher’s Warbler
The largest of the Hippolais group, the Olive-tree A rather large Hippolais warbler, with a pale, broad-
Warbler is one of Europe’s largest warblers, typically based, dagger-like bill, Upcher’s Warbler has short
seen moving heavily through olive, almond, or holm undertail coverts and long, square tail with whitish
oak foliage. It has a pale, strong, dagger-like bill, thick sides.The wings have a paler central panel when
dark legs, and a long, square,white-edged dark tail. Its closed, formed by pale feather edges. Strong dark legs
wingtip projection is particularly long. It appears very and a habit of swaying its tail from side to side are
grey (less so on more olive-hued juveniles) with a helpful identifying features. It is slightly
marked pale wing panel.There is a short white line larger and rounder-headed than the
from the bill to just above (not behind) the eye. very similar Olivaceous Warbler.
OCCURRENCE Scarce breeder in Balkans and Middle OCCURRENCE Rare
East; winters in Africa. summer visitor in pale sandy
VOICE Short, hard tack; harsh, Middle East; grey above
grating, repetitive song. winters in Africa.
VOICE Hard,
long metallic tack
wingtips
dagger- note; energetic paler
like pale warbling song. below
bill
thick dark legs contrasted
dark tail

Length 16–18cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7in) Wingspan 24–26cm (9 1 ⁄2 –10in) Length 14–15cm (5 1 ⁄2 –6in) Wingspan 20–23cm (8–9in)
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