Western Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus bonelli - Pouillot de Bonelli

Systematics

Order
:
Passeriformes
Family
:
Phylloscopidés
Genus
:
Phylloscopus
Species
:
bonelli

Descriptor

Vieillot, 1819

Biometrics

Size
: 11 cm
Wingspan
: 16 à 20 cm.
Weight
: 7 à 9 g

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

The Western Bonelli's Warbler stands out from its many and close relatives by its practically white chest and belly and the much more subtle olive-green on the back and wings. The yellow-green however is still visible on the edges of the remiges and rectrices as well as on the rump. The eyebrow is little or not visible and almost white.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

Pouillot de Bonelli,
Mosquitero papialbo,
felosa-de-papo-branco,
Berglaubsänger,
Bonelli-füzike,
Bergfluiter,
Luì bianco,
bergsångare,
Eikesanger,
kolibiarik horský,
budníček západní,
Bjergløvsanger,
vuoriuunilintu,
mosquiter pàl·lid,
Limsöngvari,
świstunka górska,
Bonellī ķauķītis,
hribska listnica,
Светлобрюхая пеночка,
ボネリームシクイ,
博氏柳莺,
西方博尼氏柳鶯,

Voice song and cries

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The song is a short and powerful trill, quicker and more edited than that of the European Chiffchaff. The call is a good identification criterion because it is typical and frequently delivered, especially when the bird is uneasy: these are two clearly distinct syllables Piou-uii. The first is sharp and the second is rising, like a question.

Habitat

The Western Bonelli's Warbler inhabits dry, open habitats in mountainous areas, typically between 1,000 and 1,500 meters. It has a special preference for sparse coniferous woodland (made up of pines or larch trees).

Behaviour character trait

The Western Bonelli's Warbler gives the impression of being even livelier and more alert than its chiffchaff and Dunnock cousins. It is constantly moving around in the vegetation and rarely appears out in the open. It often makes short stationary flights, similar to a hummingbird, in order to catch its food.
This warbler is migratory and leaves Europe between August and the end of September to go to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. It returns in April.

Dietfeeding habits

The Western Bonelli's Warbler is primarily insectivorous.

Reproduction nesting

The female builds a spherical nest made of dry vegetation, directly on the ground, generally in a hillside, at the foot of a bush or a shrub.

The nest is not lined with feathers unlike the ones of the Common Chiffchaff or the Willow Warbler. The female lays 5 or 6 eggs which she incubates alone for 13 days. After about twelve days of feeding in the nest by the female and, more randomly, by the male, the chicks take flight. At this stage, each parent generally takes care of half of the clutch to continue providing food outside of the nest.

Geographic range

In spring and summer, the Western Bonelli's Warbler occupies Northwest Africa and Southwest Europe. Its northeastern nesting boundary roughly follows an axis along the mouth of the Seine to the Adriatic. It is absent from Brittany and Normandy.