Chinese Leaf Warbler

Overview

The Chinese leaf warbler (Phylloscopus yunnanensis) is a small, brightly colored species of Old World warbler found exclusively in China. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Small body of approximately 10 cm length with a slightly elongated and compact build.
• Pale green to olive-green upperparts with a yellowish-white rump and sepia-colored tertials.
• Distinctive head pattern featuring a well-defined pale eyebrow stripe, a faint yellow median crown stripe, and dusky-olive lateral crown stripes.
• Song consists of a dry, monotonous 'tsiridi' repeated five times, lasting over a minute, accompanied by loud, irregular scolding whistles of 'tueet'.

Habitat

Native to central and north-eastern China, including regions such as Xin Shui in Sichuan Province. The species inhabits mountainous forests, preferring spruce and fir in subtropical or tropical dry forests and high-altitude shrubland, typically at elevations between 1000 m and 2600 m.

Diet

The bird feeds on insects, almost always keeping to tree canopies where it forages. It is often found in low secondary growth within its forest habitat.

Did you know?

Despite being migratory, the specific locations of its wintering grounds remain currently unknown to ornithologists.