Sylvia

SYLVIA.

Rictal bristles less developed than in " Acrocephalus" and " Hypolais" ; small insectivorous birds (mostly migratory); nest, a cup in bushes, trees, or amongst plants near the ground ; eggs spotted.

Sylvia nisoria nisoria (l1ct'hstcin). BARRED WARBLER. Fr.• Ilabillarde 6pervii!re ; Ger. Sperhcrgrasmiicke ; Ea/. Bigia padovana.

8' Above grey, tinged brown, scapulars, secondaries, rump, and upper tail 'coverts with faint dark bars and white tips ; outer rectrices bordered white both webs, the others, except central, white on inner web only; beneath white with dark scale-like bars ; 1st primary about half the length of primary coverts ; 2nd equal to 3rd. Bill dark horn, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet brownish grey. Wing 84-90, ? 83-87. Tarsus 24-25. Bill 10-II. ? browner above and less barred below. Young ; no bars except on under tail coverts ; below buff tinged especially on flanks, under tail coverts and abdomen.

Breeds.—Denmark, S. Norway and Sweden, Germany (local and rarely west of Rhine), south to N. Italy, Balkans and Rumania, east through Baltic Provinces and C. and S. Russia to S. Ural. Migrates ; occurs on passage Britain, Holland, France, Switzer land, S. Italy, Greece. Winters in E. Africa.

S. niscria inerzbacheri Schalow. Somewhat paler:grey above. Wing 86-93.5 (tl.).

A W. Siberian form whose range extends to Caucasus.

Sylvia hortensis hortensis (Gmelin). ORPHEAN WARBLER. Fr. Fauvette orphee ; Ger. Sangergrasmiicke ; Bigia grossa.

8' Above grey brown, crown, nape, and car coverts sooty black ; throat and underparts white with a pinkish buff tinge, deepest and browner on flanks and under tail coverts ; outer pair tail feathers white except a small part of inner web. Bill black above, bluish below with black tip. Legs and feet bluish grey. Wing cS ? Tarsus 22-24. Bill 10-12. ? Crown browner, less contrasted, ear coverts always dark.

Breeds.—C. and S. France, Luxemburg, S. Switzerland, Italy (chiefly in N.), Balearic Islands, Spain, Portugal, N. Africa (Morocco to Tripoli). Migrates ; not common on passage Sicily and rare in Malta. Winters Saharan oases to W. tropical Africa. Accidental Britain, Heligoland, Belgium, and Tyrol.

S. hortensis crassirostris Cretzschmar. Bill longer and more massive, 12-13 ; pinkish tinge below more rusty.

Breeds.—S.E. Europe ; Dalmatia, Montenegro, Greece, S. Russia ; and Asia Minor into S.W. Asia. Occurs on passage Egypt. Winters India, S. Arabia, and N.E. Africa.

Sylvia simplex Latham. GA iu? EN WA RE1.1.. R. Er. Fauvette des jardins ; Ger. Gartengrasmiicke ; //a/. Beccafico ; Swed. Tradgardss:mgaren.

? Above brown, tinged olive ; beneath white, throat, breast, flanks, and under wings rusty buff ; 1st primary shorter than coverts, 2nd between 3rd and 4th, 3rd longest. Bill dark brown, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet greyish brown. 8 71-81, ? 72-80. Tarsus 20-22. Bill 9-10.

Rreeds.—British Isles, Continental Europe to about 70° N., cast to Urals, N. Slopes of Caucasus, and through W. Siberia to Yenisei. In Greece only on passage ; also occurs then in N. Africa (Morocco to Egypt). Winters C. and S. Africa. Eastern birds from S. Russia and Siberia arc paler and greyer than western birds, and average somewhat longer in wing.

Sylvia atricapilla atricapilla (L.). BLACKCAP. Fr. Fauvettc a tete noire ; Ger. Schwarzkopf ; Md. Capinera ; Swed. Svarthufvadesangare.

adult. Above brownish olive green, crown black not descending below eye ; throat grey ; nape and underparts pale grey ; no white on tail. Bill black above, bluish below with black tip. Legs and feet bluish grey. Wing d ? 70-79. Tarsus 2o-21. Bill 9-10. ? and young : crown red brown.

Brads.—Throughout Europe and British Isles, north to 69 in Norway, and about in Russia ; Caucasus, Azores, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunis north of Atlas, also Asia Minor and W. Siberia. Winters Mediterranean basin, Egypt, and further south in Africa.

S. atricapilla heineken (Jardine). Darker above than typical form and browner on flanks. In Madeira and an aberrant form occurs, dingy olive green both above and below, and in d entire head and chest black. Wing 69-72, ? 68-71 (II.).

Reside,/ —Madeira and Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Palma, Gomera, Hicrro).

Sylvia communis communis Latham. WHITETHROAT. Fr. Babillarde grisette ; Ger. Dorngrasmiicke ; Ad. Sterpazzola ; Swett. TOrnsAmgarc.

8 Above greyish brown, greyer on crown ; wing coverts and quills edged rufous brown, broader and brighter on inner secondaries ; beneath white, rosy tinged on breast, flanks and under tail coverts buff ; eye-rim pale red ; ist primary almost as long as primary coverts. Bill dark brown above, paler below. Legs and feet pale brown. Iris yellowish brown. Wing 8' 69-74) y 6S-7o. Tarsus 20-22. Bill ? browner ; beneath huffy white without rosy tinge on breast.

Breeds.—British Isles ; Continental Europe north to about and east to Urals ; Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Crete, Morocco, also Asia Minor. Occurs on passage Egypt and N.W. Africa. \Vinters Africa and S. Arabia.

S. communis icterops 1VIemStries. Upper parts and wings darker, edges to secondaries less rufous. Somewhat larger. Wing 74-78 (H.). Iris yellow.

A \V. Siberian breeding form whose range extends into Caucasus, also to Orenburg, where it meets typical form. Occurs in Egypt on passage.

Sylvia curruca curruca (L.). LESSER WHITETHROAT. Fr. Babillardc ordinaire ; Ger. Zaungrasmticke ; S'wed. Artsmyg.

6 Above pale grey brown, greyer on crown ; lores and ear coverts dark brown ; beneath greyish white with faint rosy tinge ; ist primary longer than coverts, znd between 5th and 6th ; tiny feathers on eyelids white. Bill dark horn, whitish below at base. Legs and feet plumbeous. Iris greyish brown. Wing e 63-70, ? 62-66. Tarsus 18-2o. Bill 8-9.

Breeds.—England ; Continental Europe to about 64° N., east to Urals ; Caucasus. May breed Scotland but occurs chiefly on passage, very rare Ireland. Spain on passage in east. Migrates chiefly to south-east. \Vinters N.E. Africa.

S. curruca affinis Blyth. Like typical form, but 2nd primary shorter than 6th, usually between 6th and 7th, sometimes 7th and 8th.

A Siberian race whose breeding range extends into Russia (Orenburg and Lower Volga Steppes). Occurs in Egypt (Nicoll). Winters in India. Has been reported as occurring in C. and W. Europe ; once obtained at Fair Isle.

S. curruca minula Hume. Paler above than typical form and "affinis" ; and primary generally between 7th and 8th. Wing 60-65.

Breeds.—S.W. Asia. Has occurred at Orenburg (Grote).

Sylvia nana nana (Hemprich and Ehrenberg).

j 9 Above greyish sandy brown, rufous on inner secondaries, upper tail coverts, and central tail feathers ; beneath white, tinged pinkish buff; outer tail feathers white. Bill brownish horn, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet straw yellow. 1st primary somewhat longer than coverts, znd between 5th and 6th. Wing 56-61. Tarsus 18-2o. Culmen 9-10.5 (H.).

Breeds.—S.W. Asia ; from Sinai to W. India. Has occurred in Egypt.

S. nana deserti (Loche). j 9 Above redder, more sandy colour ; beneath creamy white. Wing 56-59 (H.).

Resident—Sandy deserts of Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripoli ; once occurred in Italy.

Sylvia ruppelli Temminck. RePPELL'S WARBLER. Above grey ; crown, lores, ear coverts, chin, and throat black ; moustachial stripe white ; beneath creamy white tinged rosy. Bill blackish brown, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet reddish brown. 1st primary slightly shorter than coverts, znd, 3rd and 4th equal. Wing j 68-73, 9 66-69. Tarsus 20-21 (NV.). Bill to-11. 9 Chin and throat white ; crown and ear coverts duller black, tipped grey on crown.

Breeds.—Greece, Crete, Asia Minor and Palestine. Occurs on passage in Egypt, especially in spring. Winters in N.E.

Africa. Has twice occurred in Britain.

Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala Gmelin. SARDINIAN WARBLER. Rai. Occhio-rosso.

Above slate, slightly tinged brown ; crown and car coverts black ; beneath white, pure on throat and chest, more or less ashy elsewhere ; outer pair of tail feathers largely white, 2nd and 3rd tipped white ; 1st primary longer than coverts, znd between 7th and 8th, 3rd to 5th marginate. Eye-ring red. Bill black, pale at base below. Legs and feet pale brown, soles yellow. Wing 8 56-62, 9 55-58. Tarsus 19-21. Bill 8-1o. Tail 58-65. 9 Above olive brown, greyer on crown ; beneath whitish, brown on flanks. Young : generally browner than 9.

Preeds.—S. France, Pyrenees, Spain, Portugal, N. Africa (Morocco to Tripoli), Mediterranean Islands, Italy and Croatia to Greece, Bessarabia, Asia Minor and Palestine. Largely resident, occurs in Egypt in winter. Accidental in Britain and Switzerland.

S. melanocephala leucogastra (Ledru). 8' Smaller than typical form ; white on tail less in extent and less pure, more grey. Wing 55-58 (H.). ? darker above than typical ?, and less white on tail.

Resident.—Canary Islands (cast and west groups).

S. melanocephala momus (Hemprich and Ehrenberg). Bow man's Warbler. smaller than typical form. Wing 55-59 (H.), browner above, black of crown sharply contrasting ; beneath less ashy, purer white. y as typical ? but uniform above, crown not greyer.

Breeds.—Palestine to W. Persia. Occurs on passage Egypt in spring.

S. melanocephala norrisce Nicoll. 6' as in typical form but back brown. Wing 55. Tail 52.

Breeds.—Lake Birket Karun, Fayoum, Middle Egypt.

Sylvia mystacea Menetries.

8 Resembles "melanocephala" but crown greyer, not so black, and less strongly contrasted with back ; beneath, chin and middle abdomen white, rest of underparts vinous, flanks tinged grey. Ring round eye orange. Bill brown, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet reddish brown. Wing 58-63. Tarsus 18. Tail 56-6o. Culmen 11.5-12.5 (H.). ? Above pale grey brown, beneath buffy white.

Breeds.—S.W. Asia. Of rare occurrence Egypt in spring.

Sylvia subalpina subalpina Temminck. SUBALPINE WARBLER. ital. Sterpazzolina.

Above grey, tinged brown ; moustachial stripe white ; throat and breast cinnamon in contrast to paler flanks, but occasionally pinkish cinnamon on entire underparts ; abdomen white. 1st primary about equal to coverts, 2nd between 5th and 6th, 3rd to 5th emarginate. Bill dark brown above, paler below at base. Legs and feet pale brown. ? Above pale brown, beneath white, tinged pinkish buff especially on breast and flanks. Wing 52-62, ? 52-60. Tarsus 18-2o. Bill 7-8. Tail 52-55.

Breeds.—S.E. France, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Malta (some), Spain and Portugal. Partly resident. Occurs Algeria and Malta on passage. Accidental Britain and Switzerland.

S. subalpina albistriata (Brehm). 2nd primary longer, generally between Ord and 4th or equal to 4th ; rictal stripe broader, throat and breast deeper cinnamon, flanks paler, more white on abdomen. Wing d 59-65 (H.).

Breeds.—Balkan Peninsula, Greece, Greek Islands, Crete, Asia Minor. Occurs on passage Egypt and Malta, and in spring Algeria and Tunis. Winters N.E. Africa, S. Arabia, Saharan oases.

Both typical "subalpina" and "albistriata" occur in Malta. Two specimens obtained 4/9/14 belong to the latter race ; two others obtained 9/9/14 belong to the former.

S. subalpina inornata Tschusi. a like typical form but throat and flanks darker, more brick red than pink. Y also darker below.

Breeds.—Tripoli, Algeria, Tunis, and Morocco.

Sylvia conspicillata conspicillata Temminck. SPECTACLED WARBLER. Red. Sterpazzola sarda.

d Above brown ; crown grey, lores and ear coverts darker ; ring of small feathers round eye white ; greater wing coverts and secondaries with broad cinnamon edges ; beneath, upper throat white, lower slaty, rest of underparts pinkish vinous ; primary a little longer than coverts, 2nd between 5th and 6th. Bill dark horn, yellowish at base below. Legs and feet pale brown. 9 Above brown, tinged grey on crown, underparts paler than in a. Wing Y 53-59. Tarsus 18-2o. Bill 7-8. Tail 51-55. Young : upper parts including crown brown.

Breeds.—S.E. France (Savoy, Rhone Delta, Carmargue), Italy (local), Spain, Portugal, N. Africa (Morocco to Tunis), N. Sahara, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Palestine. Occurs Egypt in winter and may breed there.

S. conspicillata bells Tschusi. Darker throughout in both sexes.

Resident.—Madcira, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands.

Sylvia deserticola Tristram.

,g Crown and upper parts grey with reddish tinge on back, wing coverts and quills with broad cinnamon margins, tail long and rounded ; beneath reddish chestnut ; 1st primary about 2-4 m.m. longer than coverts, 2nd between 7th and 8th. Bill dark brown, yellowish below at base. Legs and feet yellowish brown. 9 paler throughout. Wing 9 53-57. Tarsus 17-18. Culmen 11-12. Tail 55-58 (H.).

Mountains of Tunis and Algeria. Winters in Sahara.

S. deserticola maroccana Hartert. Like typical form but cinnamon on wing feathers reduced to narrow margins. Atlas, W. Morocco.

Sylvia undata undata (Boddaert). DARTFORD WARBLER. Fr. Pitchou de Provence ; Ital. Magnanina.

Above slaty grey, with strong brown tinge ; crown greyer ; beneath reddish chestnut with white tips on throat feathers, middle abdomen whitish, flanks greyish. Eye-rim orange yellow. 1st primary 5.6 m.m. longer than coverts, 2nd short, between 9th and loth. Bill dark horn, yellowish below at base. Legs and feet brown. 9 duller above ; beneath paler, more vinous. Wing 9 53-57. Tail long, graduated, central feathers 64-72, outer feathers 53-57 (H.). Tarsus 18-2o. Bill 7-9.

and S. France, Spain and Portugal, on east side south to Aguilas, and on west at least to Tagus, C. and S. Italy, N. Italy (rare), Malta (rare). Apparently resident.

S. undata dartfordiensis Latham. Rather smaller, above dull chocolate brown, tinged grey on crown, flanks brownish. Wing d 50-54, 9 50-52 (W.).

Resident. —S. England, Channel Islands, N.W. France.

"S. u. armorica" (Crette de Palluel) is not considered separable.

S. undata toni Hartert. Greyer and smaller than "dartford iensis." Wing d 49-52, 9 49-50. Bill 6-8. Outer tail feathers 50-55.

Resident.—Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, S. Spain (Algeciras). Has been recorded by Favier as migrating at Tangier.

S. undata corsa Laubmann. Underparts paler and more vinous than typical form. Size as " toni." Resident.—Corsica, Sardinia, Pantellaria.

Sylvia sarda sarda Temminck. MARMORA'S WARBLER.

8 Above dark ashy grey, darker on crown ; throat, breast and flanks grey, abdomen whitish, tinged faint vinous ; ist primary much longer than coverts, 2nd between 7th and 8th. Eye-rim red. Bill dark horn, yellow below at base. Legs and feet yellow brown. Browner above, abdomen white, flanks brownish. Wing 8' 56-58.5. Tarsus 2o-21. Culmen 11.5-12.5.

Tail 62-65 (H.).

Resident.—Corsica, Sardinia, Italy (Liguria), S. Sicily, Pantellaria, Algeria, Tunisia.

S. sarda balearica Jordans. d underparts lighter, whiter. ? above and below browner than ? "sarda." Smaller. Wing, d 48-51 (H.).

Resident.—Balearic Islands (Majorca, Cabrera, Dragonera, lviza).