First record of Mountain Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus lorenzii (Brooks, 1880) in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

The Mountain Chiffchaff Phylloscopus sindianus is found in the Caucasus (P.s.lorenzii) and the Himalayas (P.s.sindianus). On 17 November 2015 at 07.40 CET, a Phylloscopus type warbler was mist netted and ringed at Għadira Nature Reserve. Upon first examination it was immediately evident that the bird was not a Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita. The face showed dark ear coverts, dark lores, a broad whitish eye stripe and brown cap (see Fig. 1). The breast and flanks were pale greyish buff with a paler chin (see Fig. 2) and lacking any yellow hues on the breast or belly, as in P. collybita. The bird’s upperparts were of a plain brownish colour with darker wing primaries and tail (see Fig. 3) and lacking any yellowish hue as in P. collybita or the greenish hue on the wings as in P. tristis.