Not really a butterfly....

[Charles Nicol]

is this some kind of warbler ? it was nibbling on our catkins this afternoon in Cambridgeshire

bird.png (235.44 KiB) Viewed 222 times

[bugboy]

Yes, almost certainly a Chiffchaff, which are everywhere at the moment, although the near identical looking Willow Warbler will be turning up any day now so I wouldn't rule that out.

[Charles Nicol]

thanks for that bugboy !

Charles

[Charles Nicol]

Yes, almost certainly a Chiffchaff, which are everywhere at the moment, although the near identical looking Willow Warbler will be turning up any day now so I wouldn't rule that out.

i looked on this site:

http://www.dublinbirding.ie/pages/featu ... willow.htm

and they say Chiffchaffs have black legs... my one seems to have more light brown, so perhaps it is a Willow Warbler

[bugboy]

Yes, almost certainly a Chiffchaff, which are everywhere at the moment, although the near identical looking Willow Warbler will be turning up any day now so I wouldn't rule that out.

i looked on this site:

http://www.dublinbirding.ie/pages/featu ... willow.htm

and they say Chiffchaffs have black legs... my one seems to have more light brown, so perhaps it is a Willow Warbler

The leg colour isn't very good way of separating the two species, there's enough variation within both species for there to be a cross over plus in certain light pale legs can look dark and visa versa. The songs are the only conclusive way to separate the two in the field. Experts can also use the length of the primary wing feathers compared to the secondaries but you need a good clear view or have it in hand.

[Charles Nicol]

Yes, almost certainly a Chiffchaff, which are everywhere at the moment, although the near identical looking Willow Warbler will be turning up any day now so I wouldn't rule that out.

i looked on this site:

http://www.dublinbirding.ie/pages/featu ... willow.htm

and they say Chiffchaffs have black legs... my one seems to have more light brown, so perhaps it is a Willow Warbler

The leg colour isn't very good way of separating the two species, there's enough variation within both species for there to be a cross over plus in certain light pale legs can look dark and visa versa. The songs are the only conclusive way to separate the two in the field. Experts can also use the length of the primary wing feathers compared to the secondaries but you need a good clear view or have it in hand.

thanks again bugboy... i think i will stick to butterflies... much easier