Gansu Leaf Warbler

Overview

The Gansu leaf warbler (Phylloscopus kansuensis) is a small passerine bird known exclusively from China. Formerly considered a subspecies of Pallas's warbler, it is now recognised as a distinct species based on differences in vocalisation and genetic markers.

Identification

• Length of 10 cm, slightly larger than Pallas's warbler.
• Greenish upperparts, pale underparts, and a pale rump.
• Head features a long white supercilium and a pale central crown stripe.
• Wings display one conspicuous wingbar, a slight second bar, and whitish tertial edges.
• Song comprises a thin, high-pitched note, followed by accelerating notes and a trill.

Habitat

Breeding occurs in Gansu and Qinghai provinces in northern China, with wintering grounds likely in Yunnan province. It inhabits deciduous forests mixed with spruce and juniper, reaching altitudes of up to 3,200 metres.

Did you know?

Despite once being grouped with Pallas's warbler, this species is now separated based on cytochrome-b gene sequence data.