Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler???

purpledragon2112 · #1 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 02:35 PM

Hi
I am bit of a newbie when it comes to this site, so I hope that I get this in the right place??
I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to tell the difference between a Chiffchaff and a Willow warbler.
We have a new bird coming to our garden table and the closest we can find to it is either a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler but can't tell which it is??

We have about 21 different species of birds coming to our garden and we know all of them so it would be wonderful if we could identify this one
It is a beautiful little bird.
We have started to re-do our garden with the purpose of encouraging more insects and birds so this new little bird is a very welcome sign (if only we knew what is was)!!!
Truely hope someone can help.
Many thanks

Ragtime · #2 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 03:24 PM

Well it could possibly be a juvenile something or other. Not sure if either ChiffChaffs or WWs visit gardens as such?

Best way to identify them is the song. CC is easiest with a repeated 2 note song which gives it it's name.
The WW has a decending warble.

Otherwise very little to distinguish them. CC has darker leg colour.

Fieldfare95 · #3 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 03:27 PM

Welcome to WAB

Ragtime is right on how to separate them but are you sure that it is not a young bird of something else? As I have never heard of one of these on a bird table.

purpledragon2112 · #4 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fieldfare95

Welcome to WAB

Ragtime is right on how to separate them but are you sure that it is not a young bird of something else? As I have never heard of one of these on a bird table.

Hi
You might be right, I have no idea, it could well be a juvenile, but to what I just don't know, if anyone knows what juvenile bird looks like either a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler then I would love to know because this has me stumped!! I have tried to photograph it but it never stays long enough to get a picture, it flits in and flits out again.
Many thanks for your replies.

Adam Cheeseman · #5 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 03:50 PM

If it's visiting your birdtable and you are sure it is either or, then I would place money on it being a Chiffchaff. I've not heard of Willow Warblers visiting bird tables, but Chiffchaffs certainly do on occasion.

Cheers,

Adam

PentaxPete · #6 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 04:53 PM

Assuming its one or the other, you could also check the legs if you get the chance. Black-ish legs - Chiffchaff - pale brown/yellow-ish legs - Willow Warbler.

This may not be so easy if they're juveniles though

Lance Morgan · #7 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 04:57 PM

hmm.... Chiffchaff or willow warbler?
This has been discussed in numerous threads

Adam Cheeseman · #8 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PentaxPete

Assuming its one or the other, you could also check the legs if you get the chance. Black-ish legs - Chiffchaff - pale brown/yellow-ish legs - Willow Warbler.

This may not be so easy if they're juveniles though

Or even with a lot of adults.

Cheers,

Adam

PentaxPete · #9 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 05:05 PM

True - there's small variations i guess. A WW with slightly darker legs than normal, and a CC with slightly paler legs than normal = problem

Picidae · #10 (**permalink**) 21-07-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PentaxPete

True - there's small variations i guess. A WW with slightly darker legs than normal, and a CC with slightly paler legs than normal = problem

Chiffchaff always have dark legs never pale legs - with WW it's variable and shouldn't be used as a diagnostic feature in the absence of other WW features. Without a photo, (or even a description!!) of what warbler PurpleDragon saw on the bird table will not be ID'd by us on here - however, as Adam stated above, if it is either a WW or a Chiffchaff, then Chiffchaff is much more likely, they do visit gardens and do use bird tables from time to time.