two birds are they the same species please

[Stomperone]

These were taken within a short distance of each other I think they are sedge warblers but there is doubt on one of them as its head is a lot darker than the other .. Is it male and female or are they two different species please .. The one with a darker head has been cropped significantly hence the lack of quality but I think It can still be identified.

Thank you
Peter

[NickCantle]

Is the one on the right not a Chiffchaff?

[RoyW]

As Nick says the second bird is a Chiffchaff. First photo is a Sedge Warbler though. Neither species shows any plumage difference between male and female (as far as we know!).

Roy.

[Stomperone]

Thank you for the quick replies..

So the one with a lighter head and better quality is a chiff chaff and the poor quality one a sedge warbler..

If thats the case then i was totally out as I thought it was the other way around lol ..... But that would be about right as I am still trying to get my bird recognition up to scratch but feel I never will

I am thinking about going to the same location today to try to get even better photos of them both.. I am not a bird watcher as such .. more of a nature watcher but most of all I love to take really nice photos it all .. If I manage to get the names of whatever i photograph correct then its an added bonus

Thank you guys

[NickCantle]

Lovely image of the Chiffchaff too, by the way

[Hedge Witch]

The Chiffchaff
If you look at the eye, there is a whitish "eye-ring" which is fairly prominent on the lower "eyelid" in this shot. This indicates that it is a Chiffchaff.

The legs and feet are very dark, and this does not contradict the ID. If the legs had been a paler brown colour, this would have indicated Willow Warbler, since they never have such dark legs and feet.

If you were to compare your shot with a similar one of a Willow Warbler, the Chiffchaff has a less noticeable dark eye stripe and supercilium (the streak above the eye).

Other pointers for Chiffchaff - shorter primary projection on the wings (best analysed from a photo and not visible in your shot), tail-flicking behaviour and voice:

British Garden Birds - Chiffchaff



This is how I understand it, anyway

[Stomperone]

thank you very much for all the info hedge witch much appreciated