Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler medley - who's singing?

[Deb London]

When both these birds' notes are sung by the same bird, is it likely to be a Willow Warbler copying a Chiffchaff, a CC mimicking a WW, or could it be either, equally? And why on earth do they want to do this if they don't interbreed (I assume they don't)?

The local bird club has reported a WW with CC notes, and I thought I heard a CC with some WW notes a few weeks ago. I wondered if it was likely that I got it wrong.


It's all very confusing.

[bobbarber]

Originally Posted by Deb London

When both these birds' notes are sung by the same bird, is it likely to be a Willow Warbler copying a Chiffchaff, a CC mimicking a WW, or could it be either, equally? And why on earth do they want to do this if they don't interbreed (I assume they don't)?

The local bird club has reported a WW with CC notes, and I thought I heard a CC with some WW notes a few weeks ago. I wondered if it was likely that I got it wrong.


It's all very confusing.

Hello Deb, try googling `warbler song copying` and the third site down is`willow warbler WMids April 2009`. There is an interesting article about this subject that might be of use to you...Bob

[aeshna5]

I noticed on London Birders there was a bird like yours reorted by an observer at Alexandra Park. There have been suggestions of hybrids but I don't know whether this has been proved + ceretainly rare if so.

[Deb London]

Thanks both. Interesting to speculate.

Originally Posted by bobbarber

Hello Deb, try googling `warbler song copying` and the third site down is`willow warbler WMids April 2009`. There is an interesting article about this subject that might be of use to you...Bob

Will do Bob, cheers.

[captaincarot]

Iberian chif chaf vagrant