Western Bonelli’s warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli)

The Western Bonelli’s warbler is a “warbler” in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider “Bonelli’s warbler” species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, this species is now usually considered to be two species:

• Western Bonelli’s warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli, which breeds in south west Europe and north Africa
• Eastern Bonelli’s warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis, which breeds in south east Europe and Asia Minor

The species is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a rare vagrant in Northern Europe.

The genus name Phylloscopus is from Ancient Greek phullon, “leaf”, and skopos, “seeker” (from skopeo, “to watch”). The English name and the specific bonelli are for the Italian ornithologist Franco Andrea Bonelli.

Western Bonelli’s warbler is a small passerine bird, found in forest and woodland. 4–6 eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. Like most warblers, western Bonelli’s is insectivorous.

The adult has a plain grey-green back, green-toned rump and wings and whitish underparts. The bill is small and pointed and the legs brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers.

The call of the western Bonelli’s warbler is a disyllabic hu-it, differing from that of eastern which is a completely different hard chup, reminiscent of a crossbill or a house sparrow

The first record for Romania was in 31 august 2021 near the Black sea cost.

photo: Mihai BACIU