Appearance:

Small, short winged warbler. Similar to Scrub Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta) and Graceful Warbler (Prinia gracilis), but both wings and tail much shorter. Tail fan-shaped with black and white tips. Heavily streaked back, buff underparts and pale throat and vent. Pale area around eye. Flight diagnostic, with whirring wings and short, slightly spread, fan-like tail. Song flight even more distinct, with long undulations synchronised with voice.

Sound:

Male song a diagnostic, monosyllabic, high-pitched "cist", repeated in an even rhythm about once every second, while in bounding song-flight or perched. Alarm call a short, clipping "witt", repeated in series.

Song and alarm:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

CC

Appearance:

Most distinct species of the genus. Most similar to Willow Warbler, but with much more contrasting plumage. Upperparts pure green. Throat and upper chest yellow, contrasting with pure white underparts. Distinct and strong yellow supercilium and black eye-stripe. Long primary projection, with primaries reaching middle of relatively short tail. Tertials with pale green fringes. Legs pale yellowish brown. Posture often horizontal with drooping wings.

Sound:

Song distinct. An accelerating series of sharp, metallic "swee-swee-swee-swee". Typically with a staccato beginning. Pitch drops as the speed increases and the syllables fuses into a continuous trill. Often described as the sound of a spinning coin coming to rest on a glass table. Some phrases may be given in an almost even tempo, and may recall Bonelli's Warbler. Alternative (piping) song a series of 4-6 piping, plaintive and descending "pew - pew" calls. Resembles Willow Tit's song, but is softer with each note more evenly pitched. Contact call similar to individual syllables of piping song, but with heavier accent on the ending.

Song (two variants):

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC