Gallery Index

'Siberian Chiffchaff' type with 'fulvescens' traits


 


Hams Hall, Warwickshire, UK, December 2016. Photos Alan Dean.

Chiffchaff with 'fulvescens' traits

Chiffchaff with 'fulvescens' traits

Chiffchaff with 'fulvescens' traits

Chiffchaff with 'fulvescens' traits

© A. R. Dean

Note prominent yellowish-olive fringes to remiges, rectrices, wing-coverts and scapulars : far more evident than in 'classic' tristis (see main Gallery images). Also yellow tinge in upper eye-ring.

 

'fulvescens' c.f. nominate collybita

© A. R. Dean

Comparison of  'Siberian Chiffchaff' type with  'fulvescens' traits and Common Chiffchaff of nominate form collybita.
Note generally tristis-like grey-brown upperparts and off-white underparts of 'fulvescens' bird, lacking the overall more-colourful, olive and yellow appearance of collybita.
However, 'fulvescens' bird also has  pronounced yellowish-olive fringes to remiges, rectrices, coverts and lower scapulars plus a yellow tinge above eye.
The extent and prominence of 'misplaced' olive and yellow implicate introgression from abietinus and would preclude this individual being logged as an unequivocal tristis.