Upper and lower ear coverts

[AshLee]

Hi people,

Can anyone help me identify the upper and lower ear coverts on this picture of a Willow Warbler that I adapted from the Gallery. I've added a grid to help location (hopefully).

Thanks,

Ash

[Picidae]

You've picked one of the best plumage features for separating Chiffchaff/Willow warbler imo. (Apart from song and structure) The upper ear coverts can be quiet dark on WW but the lower ones are usually paler showing at times a clear demarcation between upper and lower ECs. Chiffchaff show a more uniform ear covert pattern with both upper and lower coverts dark giving it it's distinctive dusky cheek pattern. The lower earcoverts on CC surround the lower eye ring highlighting the more 'complete' and brighter eyering distinctive in CC. Sorry about the crude scribble!

[AshLee]

Thanks Picidae, that's excellent. I was reading another forum and I wasn't quite following the anatomy. WW was the example given. Thanks again!