ID required Please!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Harold Smith

Gaza's picture shows that the base of the bill is darker than a Willow Warbler's would normally be, the flanks are much more yellowish than the Willow Warbler's which are usually paler, the eyestripe seems a bit too short for Willow Warbler and the legs are very black whereas Willow Warbler's legs are usually quite pale. In the field the legs are one of the ways of telling the difference between the two apart from the song. All these say to me it is a Chiffchaff.

I would be interested as to why you think it is a Willow Warbler?

The bird in the photo has a long primary projection, best seen on its right wing. This is longer in willow warbler than in chiffchaff due to willow warbler migrating larger distances.

The legs on this bird are shaded making them look darker than they are, however leg colour is not a diagnostic way of seperating the two species as willow warblers can and often do show dark legs, dark legged willow warblers however often show pale toes like this one chiffchaffs tend to have dark toes.

The supercillium on this photo extends well beyond the ear coverts, it is just quite fine here. It is also very pale, long and fine. In chiffchaff its usually broad and short. This bird also has a dark eye stripe which is not as distinctive as this in chiffchaff.

The whole colour of the bird is very yellow to pale greenish yellow in some parts, and a green tinge to the back. Chiffchaff are much more brown and are more dull in colour.

The bill of this bird is very pale, it has a pale cuting edge and a sharp demarcation between the dark and light colouration. In chiffchaff the bill is smaller and more pointed and has a diffuse border between the two colours its usually much darker too.

The face and ear coverts of this bird are very pale, chiffchaffs have a dark cheek which makes the bottom half of the eye ring stand out. This bird has a pale cheek and the eye ring is less noticable.

The actual structure of this bird is quite long and not very compact, showing a thinner profile. Chiffchaff are very compact with quite stubby heads.

[Harold Smith]

Thanks Dogghound! You've convinced me Willow Warbler!

Harold.