Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

Overview

The eastern Bonelli's warbler, or Balkan warbler, is a small passerine in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It is migratory, breeding in southeast Europe and Asia Minor before wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.

Identification

• Plumage: Plain grey-green back, green-toned rump and wings, and whitish underparts; lacks the browner tinge of the western form, sometimes showing a greenish tinge instead.
• Structure: Small body with a small, pointed bill and brown legs.
• Vocalisation: Song is a fast monotone trill; call is a hard 'chup', reminiscent of a crossbill or house sparrow.

Habitat

Found in forest and woodland, this species breeds in southeast Europe and Asia Minor. It migrates to sub-Saharan Africa for winter and is a rare vagrant in northern Europe.

Diet

Like most warblers, the eastern Bonelli's warbler is insectivorous.

Did you know?

Although the song of the eastern form is only slightly different from the western Bonelli's warbler, their calls are completely distinct; the eastern variant produces a hard 'chup' whereas the western version calls out a disyllabic 'hu-it'.