Appearance:

Rather large and heavily built Sylvia with dark hood and pale iris (in adults). Lacks red orbital ring of Sardinian Warbler. Very similar to Western Orphean Warbler (S. hortensis), but usually distinguished from that geographically by different breeding and wintering range, and also by appearance in typical birds (in addition to song). The following field marks differs from S. hortensis; dark centres to under tail coverts and whiter underparts with very little buff tones (slightly buff flanks in some). Other more variable traits are; dark hood more distinctly bordered in neck, colder grey upperparts and longer, more curved bill. Vagrant immature birds outside of normal distribution may be impossible to tell from S. hortensis. Apart from size, it differs from Lesser Whitethroat by; stronger bill, lack of incomplete white eye-ring, darker upper tail and above mentioned under tail coverts.

Sound:

Contact call a short "check", sometimes in series. When agitated a nasal, rattling "trrrr-trrrr-trrrr". Both calls very similar to S. hortensis. Song distinct, but with same quality of fluting sounds as in S. hortensis, recalling that of Blue Rock Thrush in timbre. Phrases often long and much more varied and impressive, with frequent mimicry. May be mistaken for Nightingale, but incorporates more dry trills, is slower, harder and lacks the diagnostic series of plaintive notes (may mimic it!).

Song:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

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

CC-sound:Mehmetunlu, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Paul Cools, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Mattias Hofstede, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Mick Sway, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Very similar to Treecreeper C. familiaris, and id by sound generally easier than by appearance in areas where both species occur. Primaries with small, almost pure white tips restricted to outer web. Hind-claw shorter than hind-toe. Wing-bar usually with even "steps", but often difficult to determine. Underparts less white and more brownish than in continental C. familiaris (which again is browner than the pure white northern subspecies). Bill longer and with a stronger curved tip.

Sound:

Contact call very similar to C. familiaris. A thin "sreee" often repeated in an even rhythm, perhaps with slighly shorter pauses. Flight call a short and sharp "wit" used freely when moving about. Song diagnostic, and introductory notes often used singly when interacting. Full song starts with one or two staccato introductory notes, the first higher pitched than the second, followed by a rapid, ascending crescendo ending in a drawn-out, less pure "sree". The tone is loud and much more penetrating and clear than C. familiaris. Timbre recalls wet rubber-boots on vinyl flooring. Note that "mixed singers" of C. familiaris are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur.

Song:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

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

CC-photo:Agustín Povedano, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Agustín Povedano, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Mickaël Dia, Licence,Link.