Friday, 30 June 2017

7-7-2015 REAL DE GANDIA, VALENCIA - SARDINIAN WARBLER (FEMALE) (Sylvia melanocephala)


The Sardinian Warbler appears like the most widespread of the southern species of genus Sylvia. Very secretive, this pretty warbler frequents the maquis scrub. This is a bulky and robust warbler.

The adult male has dark ash-grey upperparts and wing-coverts, whereas mantle and scapulars are tinged brown. The flight feathers are blackish with grey edges. The tail is blackish with whitish edges and white tip.
The underparts are greyish-white. Chin and throat are white.
The head is glossy black. The bill is blackish with paler base of lower mandible. The eyes are red-brown, surrounded by reddish eye-ring. Legs and feet are brownish.
In non-breeding plumage, the male has more olive upperparts and less blackish head.

The adult female in breeding plumage is duller than male with dull grey head, brownish upperparts and cream-buff underparts with brownish-olive body sides. Bare parts are often paler than in male.
In non-breeding plumage, she has tinged brownish head and duller contrasts.

The juvenile resembles female but it is duller and browner. Its eyes are greyish with pale reddish eye-ring.

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