Warbler for ID please

[goosey]

I think this little chap is a Warbler, but when I have checked them out they all look more or less the same to me - can some one pin point it for me please. It was seen April 2008, in a tree over hanging some water.

[mtngoat]

It might be the Yellow-Browed Warbler, or the Hume's Leaf-Warbler. Both are usually found in Central Europe and in Asia. But, they will go as far as Great Britain and it isn't considered surprising to see them there. There's only one mark that I see that I think different, yours has a sort of dark band around the chest... and neither the Browed or Leaf warbler seems to have it. Well, here are some reference pics!

Yellow-Browed Warbler


Humes Leaf Warbler


And since I couldn't resist, another Humes Leaf Warbler :

[goosey]

Thanks Jo, they are lovely looking birds and very similar - you can tell the family resemblance, but we don't get either this far west I am afraid. Its probably a willow or a sedge warbler - but as per usual my bird photo's aren't up to scratch, making an instant ID difficult.

[mtngoat]

not to start an argument... but when I looked them up, they both usually go as far west as the British Isles. Another difference between yours and the ones I posted were the wing bars. Yours doesn't have any, while the browed and humes have... *sighs*I really wish I could travel more...

[black]

Hi Goosey,
by the look of it its either a Willow Warbler or a Chiffchaff, not a Sedge Warbler. The supercilium and chest look a bit yellowish to me that would suggest Willow Warbler. The legs appear dark, but that could be the photo - that normally indicates Chiffchaff. Did it call?

[goosey]

Originally Posted by mtngoat

not to start an argument... but when I looked them up, they both usually go as far west as the British Isles. Another difference between yours and the ones I posted were the wing bars. Yours doesn't have any, while the browed and humes have... *sighs*I really wish I could travel more...

We were probably just looking at different references on the internet
I haven't travelled much, never really had the inclination, but every now and then the desire rears it's head,especially seeing images here members have put in the galleries from all over the world, but it's soon over

Originally Posted by black

Hi Goosey,
by the look of it its either a Willow Warbler or a Chiffchaff, not a Sedge Warbler. The supercilium and chest look a bit yellowish to me that would suggest Willow Warbler. The legs appear dark, but that could be the photo - that normally indicates Chiffchaff. Did it call?

Thanks black, it did have a call, thats what drew it to my attention. The willow warbler and the chiffchaff look so close to the untrained eye, I doubt I will ever really know
One of these days I will have a better camera then lighting and zooming won't be a problem - well I can dream can't I.

[paul m]

Short of genetic testing, the difference between the two species is best tested by their call. There are a lot of tone-deaf people like me who think that they're the same species!
The other element is that willow warblers live/feed at lower levels whereas chiffchaffs, allegedly, live/feed higher up in the tree canopy.
So if it were up to me, I'd call this a willow warbler ..... next beetle please ....

Originally Posted by goosey

.........., it did have a call, thats what drew it to my attention. The willow warbler and the chiffchaff look so close to the untrained eye, I doubt I will ever really know
One of these days I will have a better camera then lighting and zooming won't be a problem - well I can dream can't I.

[Guy F]

I'd also go for a Willow Warbler. The obvious pale supercillium and longer wing tip are good points when distinguishing them from Chiffchaffs. I believe they're Europes most abundant migrant bird, which is interesting as there must be so many people who don't realise they're there!
Guy

[goosey]

Thank you, Paul and Guy, difficult to distinguish.

[ericrovve]

Chiffchaff, Goosey, look at the leg colour. There are light legged chiffchaffs but not dark Willow warblers