Spotted Flycatcher (13–14cm, 5½–6in)

 

The Spotted Flycatcher is a lively summer migrant, gracing Europe with its presence between May and October. This active bird favors suburban gardens, parkland, and open woodlands.

Distinctive Habits:

Don't let their quiet demeanor fool you – Spotted Flycatchers are masters of the aerial ambush! You'll often spot them perched on an exposed branch, patiently pumping their tails. Suddenly, SNAP! They dart out with impressive speed to snatch a passing insect.

Identification:

This sparrow-sized bird shares characteristics with other flycatchers:

• Long wings

• Squarish tail

• Short legs

• Large eyes

• Broad-based bill

While their plumage may appear somewhat understated, the combination of grey, brown, and white streaks, coupled with their distinctive behavior, makes them readily identifiable.

Adult Plumage:

• Face: Indistinct white supercilium (eyebrow), greyish cheeks, white moustache.

• Throat: Off-white with thin dark streaks extending onto the breast.

• Underparts: White.

• Bill, eye, legs: Black.

• Crown: Pale grey with dark streaks, merging into the greyish-brown nape, mantle, and rump.

• Tail: Dark with white outer tail feathers.

• Wings: Pale edgings to all the main feather tracts. Tertials, secondaries, and primaries are dark brown.

Call: A thin ‘tzee’ and a rather wheezy, multi-noted song.

In Flight:

Spotted Flycatchers are agile aerial acrobats! Witness them twist and turn, often close to the ground, as they skillfully capture flying insects like bees, butterflies, and greenflies. After a successful catch, they often return to their original perch.

First Winter Plumage:

Similar to the adult, but with:

• Browner upperparts

• Broader wing edges

• Prominent bar on the greater coverts

• Underparts and bare parts resemble the adult

Juvenile Plumage:

• Heavily scalloped head, mantle, and breast.

• Broadly fringed grey-brown wings and dark tail.

• White underparts.

• Bare parts resemble the adult.

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Willow Warbler (10–11cm, 4–4½in)

 

The Willow Warbler, a small, greenish warbler, enjoys widespread distribution across Europe during the summer months. Arriving in late March or early April, they grace the continent until their departure in September and October. Unlike their close relatives, the Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers rarely overwinter in Britain.

Habitat: A Preference for Youthful Greenery

While sharing similar habitats with Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers gravitate towards smaller, younger trees, bushes, and ground vegetation. They can be spotted in tranquil woodland edges, gardens bordering woodlands, or even slightly overgrown gardens.

Distinguishing Features: Subtleties in a Verdant Palette

The small Willow Warbler closely resembles the stouter Chiffchaff. However, several key features aid in identification:

• Structure:

  • The Willow Warbler boasts longer wings compared to the Chiffchaff's shorter ones.

  • Leg color is a giveaway – pale in Willow Warblers and dark in Chiffchaffs.

• Plumage:

  • Overall: Willow Warblers generally appear paler than Chiffchaffs, especially in spring.

  • Head and Upperparts: Pale olive-green with a long, yellow-tinged eyebrow (supercilium) – unlike the short, buff one of the Chiffchaff. They also have a thin, dark eyestripe and faintly speckled cheeks.

  • Wings: Pale olive, except for darker primary feathers.

  • Tail: Dark.

  • Underparts: Cleaner than the Chiffchaff’s, lacking buff tones. The breast and flanks are washed in pale yellow, contrasting with a whitish belly.

• Bill: Dark upper mandible and tip, with a flesh-pink lower mandible.

• Eyes: Black, with a less prominent ring than the Chiffchaff.

• Legs: Pale flesh.

• Song: A fluid series of descending notes culminating in a quick flourish.

• Call Note: Similar to the Chiffchaff's but more piercing and melodic, described as a "hoo-eet".

Variations on a Theme: Not All Willow Warblers are Created Equal

• 'Northern' Willow Warblers: Occasionally, strikingly pale individuals, known as 'northern' Willow Warblers, appear in Britain. Their overall plumage is a washed-out greenish, except for darker primary feathers, tail tip, and eyestripe. They possess an off-white supercilium and underparts, with a greyish wash on the flanks. Beware of confusing these with rarer warblers!

• Autumn Plumage: Adult Willow Warblers in autumn might appear slightly browner on top and more yellow underneath.

• Juvenile Plumage: Some young Willow Warblers sport a striking autumn plumage. Their upperparts are pale olive-green, while their underparts, from face and throat to undertail coverts, are a rich lemon-yellow. The belly typically remains whitish.

The Willow Warbler, with its subtle beauty and remarkable camouflage, is a testament to the diversity within seemingly similar species. Learning to differentiate them from their Chiffchaff cousins adds a rewarding dimension to birdwatching.

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Chiffchaff - (10–11cm, 4–4½in)

summer-plumaged Chiffchaff perched on a branch

The Chiffchaff, a small greenish warbler, graces much of Europe during summer. Once solely a summer visitor to Britain and parts of Europe, it now overwinters in these regions too. Autumn sees an influx of Chiffchaffs from Scandinavia and Siberia, bolstering the existing populations. These eastern visitors tend to be greyer compared to the olive-brown residents, but discerning them requires a keen eye.

Identifying a Chiffchaff: A Case of Mistaken Identity

The Chiffchaff bears a striking resemblance to the Willow Warbler, making identification tricky. However, subtle distinctions exist:

• Structure: The Chiffchaff is slightly smaller with a more rounded head, shorter wings, and a stockier build than the Willow Warbler.

• Plumage:

  • Head and Upperparts: Dull olive-green with a greyish white eyebrow (supercilium), a dark stripe through the eye (eyestripe), and pale ear-coverts.

  • Tail: Dark olive-green.

  • Wings: Olive with darker feather centers and very dark primary feathers.

  • Underparts: Buffy-white with a white throat.

  • Bill: Thin and dark with a faint pale base.

  • Eyes: Black with a thin white ring.

  • Legs and Feet: Dark brown, unlike the Willow Warbler.

• Song: A monotonous, repeated “chiff-chaff” heard from March to June and less frequently in autumn. Their contact call is a plaintive “hueet.”

Habitat and Behavior

During breeding season, Chiffchaffs occupy various woodland habitats. However, in winter, they frequent gardens in both urban and rural areas. Constantly on the move, they flit through cover, flicking their wings and hopping between branches with alert curiosity.

Chiffchaff with brownish plumage

Plumage Variation

• Autumn: Chiffchaffs molt into a brownish or olive plumage.

• Wear and Tear: Adult plumage fades to brownish-grey on top and whitish underneath due to wear.

• Post-molt (July-September): They regain an olive hue on their upperparts, while a subtle yellow wash may appear on the breast and flanks.

Juvenile Chiffchaff

Juvenile Plumage

Young Chiffchaffs are vibrant, with rich olive-green upperparts and a yellow wash below. After their first molt in autumn, they resemble grey-washed adults.

After their first molt in autumn, they resemble grey-washed adults.

In conclusion, the Chiffchaff, though small and easily mistaken for its close relative, possesses unique characteristics that make it a rewarding bird to observe. Pay attention to its size, structure, plumage nuances, and distinctive song, and you'll soon distinguish this charming warbler from the crowd.

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