Western Bonelli's Warbler

Overview

The western Bonelli's warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) is a small passerine bird in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus that breeds in southwest Europe and north Africa. It is a migratory species that winters in sub-Saharan Africa and is considered a separate species from the eastern Bonelli's warbler despite their similar appearance.

Identification

• Plain grey-green back with a green-toned rump and wings, and whitish underparts.
• Small, pointed bill and brown legs.
• Brown upperparts, which are browner than those of the eastern Bonelli's warbler.
• Song is a fast monotone trill, while the call is a disyllabic hu-it.
• Sexes are identical in appearance.

Habitat

This species lives in forests and woodlands across its breeding range in southwest Europe and north Africa. It undertakes migrations to winter in sub-Saharan Africa and is occasionally recorded as a rare vagrant in northern Europe.

Diet

Like most warblers, the western Bonelli's warbler is insectivorous. Specific foraging behaviours or other dietary items are not detailed in the provided reference material.

Did you know?

Although the western and eastern Bonelli's warblers look very similar and have similar songs, their calls are completely different, with the western form producing a disyllabic hu-it and the eastern form a hard chup.