Eastern Bonelli's Warbler

The Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis, is a diminutive and active leaf warbler, with a plain grey-green back, a green-toned rump and wings, and whitish underparts. The bill is small and pointed, the legs are of a brown hue, and the sexes are indistinguishable in plumage.

Identification Tips

To identify the Eastern Bonelli's warbler, look for its grey-green upperparts, which may sometimes exhibit a greenish tinge, unlike its Western counterpart which has a browner shade. The underparts are whitish, and the bird's overall stature is small and agile, typical of warblers.

Habitat

This species is found in forests and woodlands, where it flits among the foliage in search of its insect prey.

Distribution

The Eastern Bonelli's warbler breeds in southeast Europe and Asia Minor, with its range not overlapping with the Western Bonelli's warbler. It is a migratory bird, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa, and is occasionally seen as a rare vagrant in Northern Europe.

Behaviour

The Eastern Bonelli's warbler is known for its insectivorous diet, actively foraging in trees and bushes. It nests on the ground, where it lays a clutch of four to six eggs.

Song & Calls

The song of the Eastern Bonelli's warbler is a fast monotone trill, bearing a resemblance to the wood warbler's song but only slightly different from its Western counterpart. Its call is a distinctive hard 'chup', reminiscent of a crossbill or a house sparrow, and is completely different from the disyllabic 'hu-it' of the Western Bonelli's warbler.

Breeding

Breeding in the Eastern Bonelli's warbler involves laying a clutch of four to six eggs in a ground nest, a common practice among warblers.

Similar Species

The Eastern Bonelli's warbler can be confused with the Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli, but can be distinguished by its call and slight differences in plumage and song.

Diet and Feeding

As an insectivorous bird, the Eastern Bonelli's warbler feeds on a variety of insects, which it gleans from leaves and branches in its woodland habitat.

Conservation status

The Eastern Bonelli's warbler is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline.