Sardinian Warbler

Appearance

Like most "Sylvia" species, it has distinct male and female plumages. The adult male has a grey back, whitish underparts, black head, white throat and red eyes. Plumages are somewhat variable even in the same locality, with the intensity of a reddish hue on upper- and/or underside varies from absent to pronounced. The female is mainly brown above and buff below, with a grey head.

The Sardinian Warbler's song is fast and rattling, and is very characteristic of the Mediterranean areas where this bird breeds.

Naming

The geographical variation in the Sardinian Warbler conforms to some extent with Gloger's Rule, though not as strongly as in some other typical warblers. The validity of "leucogastra" and "norissae" is not accepted by some authors, and "valverdei" has been described very recently. On the other hand, "leucogastra" might be more than one subspecies.

⤷  "Sylvia melanocephala melanocephala"
⟶ Iberia across the northern Mediterranean to western Turkey. Extends into the Maghreb from Iberia, and into Libya from Italy via Sicily. Migrates to the Sahel and oases in the Sahara in winter.
⟶ Large, long wings, tail tip rather pointed. A dark form, usually lacking any reddish in males but flanks extensively grey. Females' uppersides vary between deep olive brown and greyish olive.
⤷  "Sylvia melanocephala leucogastra" - often included in "melanocephala"; phylogenetic status requires review
⟶ Canary Islands, resident, probably some vagrancy between eastern islands and Maghreb.
⟶ Medium size, short-winged and large-billed. Tenerife and La Palma birds are most distinct, being dark above with some rusty/beige hue on the underside in males. Eastern birds are more like "melanocephala" and "momus" but differ in measurements.
⤷  "Sylvia melanocephala momus"
⟶ Near East. Resident, some local movements.
⟶ Smallish, short-winged. Varies between brownish grey and rusty above; underside almost always has reddish hue. Females rusty to rusty olive.
⤷  "Sylvia melanocephala norissae" Nicoll, 1917: Fayyum Warbler - probably only a local morph of "momus"
⟶ Nile Delta region. Extinct since around 1940.
⟶ Like "momus", but tend to be very reddish.
⤷  "Sylvia melanocephala valverdei" Cabot & Urdiales, 2005 - recently split from "melanocephala"
⟶ From Tiznit south to the Tropic of Cancer, inland to the edge of the Sahara. Resident, but some seasonal movements.
⟶ Medium-sized, tail tip quite square. A very pure-colored form, the palest subspecies. Undersides clean white. Matte black cap in males. Juveniles decidedly sandy.

Distribution

It breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe and just into Asia in Turkey and the eastern end of the Mediterranean. This small passerine bird, unlike most "warblers", is not particularly migratory, but some birds winter in north Africa, and it occurs as a vagrant well away from the breeding range, as far as Great Britain.

This is a bird of open country and cultivation, with bushes for nesting. The nest is built in low shrub or brambles, and 3-6 eggs are laid. Like most "warblers", it is insectivorous, but will also take berries and other soft fruit.

Habitat

It breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe and just into Asia in Turkey and the eastern end of the Mediterranean. This small passerine bird, unlike most "warblers", is not particularly migratory, but some birds winter in north Africa, and it occurs as a vagrant well away from the breeding range, as far as Great Britain.

This is a bird of open country and cultivation, with bushes for nesting. The nest is built in low shrub or brambles, and 3-6 eggs are laid. Like most "warblers", it is insectivorous, but will also take berries and other soft fruit.