Old World Warblers

The Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are nearly identical in appearance, but are easily separated by their songs.

Chiffchaff (Apr, Herts).










Willow Warbler (May, Cumbria).











The third Phylloscopus warbler, the Wood Warbler, has two different song types (June, Suffolk).




















The Blackcap and Garden Warbler are closely related species. The Blackcap song usually begins with scratchy notes that transform into a rich melody, whereas the Garden Warbler is a sustained rich warble.

Blackcap (May, Herts).











This more sustained song has a blackbird imitation (25s), and resolves at the end with the sweeter notes typical of Blackcap. I listen for these notes to separate the song from the similar Garden Warbler (May, Herts).





Garden Warbler (May, Herts).











The Grasshopper Warbler song is a continuous reeling sound and often heard at night. The intensity varies as the bird turns its head (May, Herts).












Lesser Whitethroat (May, Herts).











Except for the Chiffchaff, the above recordings were digitized from cassette tape.


Calls.

Chiffchaff alarm call (Apr, Herts). The Willow Warbler call is more bisyllabic.











Blackcap alarm call (Apr, Suffolk).