Spectacled Warbler

Overview

The spectacled warbler (Curruca conspicillata) is a very small passerine bird in the family Sylviidae. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Brown above and buff below with a white throat and chestnut wing patches.
• Adult males feature a grey head and a distinct white eye ring that gives the species its name.
• Size is intermediate between common whitethroats and Tristram's warbler.
• Song is a fast, high warble.

Habitat

This species inhabits dry open country with bushes. It breeds in northwest Africa, southwest Europe from Iberia to Italy, and eastern Mediterranean islands and coastal regions, with some populations also occurring in Atlantic islands. It is mainly resident in Africa, but other populations migrate to winter in north and west Africa and Egypt.

Diet

The spectacled warbler is insectivorous. No specific details regarding foraging techniques are provided in the reference material.

Did you know?

The scientific name conspicillata is derived from the Latin conspicillum, meaning 'a place to look from', which is equivalent to 'spectacled'.