Appearance:

Very similar to Balearic Warbler but breeding range does not overlap. Also easily confused with sympatric Dartford Warbler due to similar build with long tail, high crown, short wings and spiky bill. Told from latter by all over lead-grey plumage, lacking vinous underparts. Female similar to male but lacks dark lore and throat is paler . Immature birds are very similar to immature Dartford Warbler and are best identified by call, but have less brown back, paler throat and dirtier and greyer underparts.

Sound:

Song hurried and similar to both Sardinian, Dartford and Spectacled Warbler, but is softer with more tinny timbre. Interwoven soft rolling "trrrrtrrr" usually become more prominent towards the end of each phrase which often is concluded by 3-4 clear whistling "wit". Alarm call a short, Stonechat-like and grating "treck", very different from both Balearic and Dartford Warbler.

Alarm call and 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

CC

CC-photo:Wouter Van Gasse, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Wouter Van Gasse, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Kasper Hendriks, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Roland Wantia, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Male shiny black with bright yellow bill and yellow eye-ring. Female dark brown above. Throat and chest in slightly paler tones with diffuse dark spots. Juveniles similar to females, but with fine buff streaking all over. More long-tailed than Redwing and Song Thrush. Flight action with alternating bursts of wing-beats and with little undulation (see Fieldfare).

Sound:

One of the most appreciated song birds. Very melodious and resonant, with long mellow notes and a large register. Less high pitched sounds than Song Thrush, and seldom repeats a phrase. Timbre fuller than both Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush. Well defined pauses between phrases, giving the song a relaxed pace. Large repertoire of calls. Most characteristic is a hysterical rattle often given when flushed. Sometimes preceded by a hard "tok tok", which then accelerates into a panicky arpeggio-like crescendo. Contact call a thin redwing-like "srrreee". Alarm calls: a sharp "tink, tink" or a very high pitch falling whistle.

Alarm call, 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