Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Sylvia ("woodland sprite") cantillans ("warbling")

                            Adult male Subalpine Warbler (subspecies S. c. cantillans) at Monfrague National Park, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: Sylvia cantillans cantillans

Weight: 9-13g  /  Length: 12cm  /  Wingspan: 16-20cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Subalpine Warbler is a migratory species found throughout the Mediterranean which Winters primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Its colour resembles that of a Dartford Warbler, but on a more classic warbler frame, with the distinctive feature being a little white moustache on the males.  The individuals I saw seemed to associate with rocky and scrubby riverside habitats, and usually seemed to present in male-female pairs, but obviously this may vary with the time of year and will likely not always be true.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sylviidae
Genus: Sylvia
Subspecies: S. c. cantillans, S. c. albistriata, S. c. albistriata

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Curruca carrasqueña ("Carrasquan Warbler")

Locally common Summer Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Pair seen at El Pardo, fairly abundant at Monfrague National Park (a number of pairs seen)

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto