Willow Warbler

(C) Estormiz (shared under a CC0 1.0 license)

Scientific Name: Phylloscopus trochilus

Appearance: Small and slim with short, thin bill. Pale yellowish or whitish stripe over eye. Grey-green to olive-brown upperparts. Throat and breast dull yellow or off-white usually with variable amount of yellow streaks, flanks sometimes faintly tinged buffish. Juvenile birds may have an overall brighter appearance, with more yellow or buff in plumage. Legs usually medium or light dull brown, distinguishing from chiffchaff in the field, but can also be rather dark grey-brown. Sexes alike.

Song: Cascading, spiralling warble, falling thinner before fading, sometimes with slight flourish. May be likened to chaffinch, but sweeter, more melodic. Song bouts consist of similarly constructed phrases repeated at regular intervals.

When heard: Summer migrant. Males sing upon arrival from April through to the end of breeding in August.

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