Western Bonelli's Warbler
Encyclopedia
Western Bonelli's Warbler is a "warbler
" in the leaf warbler
genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's Warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, this species is now usually considered to be two species (Sangster et al. 2002, Parkin 2003):
The breeding ranges of the two species do not overlap; while their appearance and songs are very similar, the calls are completely different (see below). They also show marked difference in mtDNA sequence
(Helbig et al. 1995).
The species is migratory
, wintering in sub-Sahara
n Africa
. It is a rare vagrant in Northern Europe.
Western Bonelli's Warbler is a small passerine
bird
, found in forest and woodland. 4-6 eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. Like most warblers, Western Bonelli's is insectivorous.
It is a small warbler. The adult has a plain grey-green back, green-toned rump and wings and whitish underparts. The bill is small and pointed and the legs brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers.
The Western Bonelli's Warbler has a browner tinge to the upperparts than Eastern Bonelli's Warbler; the latter sometimes has a greenish tinge instead. The song is a fast monotone trill, only slightly different from Eastern Bonelli's, and also some similarity to Wood Warbler
. The call of the Western Bonelli's Warbler is a disyllabic hu-it, differing from that of Eastern which is a completely different hard chup, reminiscent of a Crossbill
or a House Sparrow
.(Helb et al. 1982)
This bird is named after the Italian ornithologist Franco Andrea Bonelli
.
Warbler
There are a number of Passeriformes called "warblers". They are not particularly closely related, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, vocal and insectivorous....
" in the leaf warbler
Leaf warbler
Leaf-warblers are small insectivorous birds belonging mainly to the genus Phylloscopus. They were formerly included in the Old World warbler family but are now considered to belong to the Phylloscopidae, a family created in 2006. The genus is closely related to Seicercus and some species have been...
genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's Warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, this species is now usually considered to be two species (Sangster et al. 2002, Parkin 2003):
- Western Bonelli's Warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli, which breeds in south west EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and north AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area... - Eastern Bonelli's WarblerEastern Bonelli's WarblerEastern Bonelli's Warbler is a "warbler" in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the eastern subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's Warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, this species is now usually considered to be two species :* Western Bonelli's...
, Phylloscopus orientalis, which breeds in south east EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia MinorAsia MinorAsia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
The breeding ranges of the two species do not overlap; while their appearance and songs are very similar, the calls are completely different (see below). They also show marked difference in mtDNA sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
(Helbig et al. 1995).
The species is migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, wintering in sub-Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
n Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. It is a rare vagrant in Northern Europe.
Western Bonelli's Warbler is a small passerine
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
, found in forest and woodland. 4-6 eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. Like most warblers, Western Bonelli's is insectivorous.
It is a small warbler. The adult has a plain grey-green back, green-toned rump and wings and whitish underparts. The bill is small and pointed and the legs brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers.
The Western Bonelli's Warbler has a browner tinge to the upperparts than Eastern Bonelli's Warbler; the latter sometimes has a greenish tinge instead. The song is a fast monotone trill, only slightly different from Eastern Bonelli's, and also some similarity to Wood Warbler
Wood Warbler
The Wood Warbler is a common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe, and just into the extreme west of Asia in the southern Ural Mountains...
. The call of the Western Bonelli's Warbler is a disyllabic hu-it, differing from that of Eastern which is a completely different hard chup, reminiscent of a Crossbill
Crossbill
The crossbill is a bird in the finch family . The three to five species are all classified in the genus Loxia. These birds are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name...
or a House Sparrow
House Sparrow
The House Sparrow is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the House Sparrow occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia...
.(Helb et al. 1982)
This bird is named after the Italian ornithologist Franco Andrea Bonelli
Franco Andrea Bonelli
Franco Andrea Bonelli was an Italian ornithologist, entomologist and collector.-Life:Very little is known about the early life of Bonelli: he was born in Cuneo and was interested from an early age in the fauna which surrounded him, making collecting trips, preparing specimens and noting his...
.