Siberian Warbler combo in Romania

[Fabian Schneider]

I transmite you some very interesting obervations from Romania:
29 september: Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus): 1 ringed, Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta), Romania. FIRST FOR ROMANIA (Valère Martin et Cie, GDJ: http://gdj.bleublog.lematin.ch)
28 september: Humei Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus humei): 1 , Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta), Romania. FIRST FOR ROMANIA (GDJ: http://gdj.bleublog.lematin.ch)

Very good capture and observation for Romania and for the second year of the ringing camp of the "Groupe des Jeune de NosOiseaux" in Sfântu Gheoghe(http://gdj.bleublog.lematin.ch), after the first Pine Bunting for Romania, the fifth Palla's leaf-Warbler, the first Redstart ssp samamisicus and the first Siberian Chiffchaff from last year!

[macrourus]

Sorry,, why the bird is a Humei?? with this image I can't be sure and would like to learn how you have done?? :-)
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[Fabian Schneider]

I have not personally seen this birds. I have just transmited the information because I'm one of the responsable of the ringing camp. But for me it's look good for a Hume Leaf-Warbler (I think that there are also others pictures).

[Brian S]

Fabian

Thanks for the links. The 'humei' image is small, and even after enlargement it is not helpful. There does appear to be a dark shadow at the base of the secondaries, but the median covert wing bar is relatively weak. I assume it has been heard to call?

Brian S

[Alex Lees]

It is certainly difficult to separate these two cryptic species from that one photo. I'm surprised however that no one has raised concerns about the identity of the other rare Phylosc - obviously biometrics must have been taken, but this certainly looks much more like an obvious Radde's.

Alex

[Brian S]

Alex

Is the bill chunky enough for Radde's?

Brian S

[Alex Lees]

Alex

Is the bill chunky enough for Radde's?

Brian S

True, the bare part colouration and apparent orange plumage are probably a red herring. One would expect the bill to be much bulkier and the super to be less concolorous. Certainly if it was that orange in life (and not an artefact of the photo) I'd be worried. In the hand the two shouldn't be problematic however............

Alex

[Brian S]

How about Yellow-streaked? They are more rufous above and have a slimmer bill.....

Was the ring put on it an A or AA?

Brian S

[forktail]

Yellow-streaked lack the warm colouration to the undertail (and to a lesser extent, flanks) that Radde's show, plus the yellow-streaking would be visible in the hand if not in the field. Presumably these would have been noted. YSW is much more of a confusion species for Radde's than Dusky - highlighting the difficulty of these birds on a single pic

They don't really flick their wings like Radde's either.

The bird in question is certainly a tricky one, initially looking very Radde's-like as Alex says but the colours do look odd... It would be nice to see more photos.

F.

[AndyB]

There's been some discussion about this phylloscopus photographed in a shopping mall car park in northern California on Thursday. The bright California sun has washed the photos out but the consensus is that it's a Dusky Warbler:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/boblewis/sets/72157607897690695/

[forktail]

Yes, that looks like a fairly normal Dusky to me.