White-spectacled Warbler
Phylloscopus intermedius
Medium-sized warbler with prominent pale “spectacles.” Extent of gray crown coloration is geographically variable; Himalayan birds average the darkest and Chinese birds the palest. Himalayan and Vietnamese birds’ dark gray crowns may recall Gray-cheeked Warbler, but both forms of White-spectacled Warbler have a much more contrasting crown pattern and bright yellow throats. White-spectacled’s eye-ring is broken at the top instead of at the back as it is in Golden-spectacled and Gray-crowned Warblers. Forages at lower levels of the forest, often making sallies after mobile prey. Breeds at medium altitudes in broadleaf hill and montane forest, with Chinese and Himalayan birds moving to lower altitudes in the non-breeding season. Song is distinctly broken and hesitant, slowly picking up as it progresses and ending with a variable trill; contains more trilling than Gray-cheeked Warbler’s song. Lower in pitch and more faltering, less accelerating, than the songs of Gray-crowned and Martens’s Warblers. Presence of any trilling components at all distinguishes this species from Bianchi’s Warbler.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phylloscopus intermedius
- Authority
- (La Touche, 1898)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Phylloscopidae
- Genus
- Phylloscopus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Freckled Duck
Stictonetta naevosa
Very finely-speckled dark-grayish duck with a dark eye and an obvious peaked crown. Beak is strongly curved like a ski-jump. Breeding males have a red base to their bill. Upper-wing is dark, while under-wing is paler gray. When perched, distinguish from Hardhead (which have a pale belly patch). Generally uncommon; found beside inland waterholes and ponds. More reliable inland, but can be common one year and absent the next from any given location.
Sumatran Ground-Cuckoo
Carpococcyx viridis
Incredibly elusive and rare, this is a highly sought-after ground-dweller. Found only in primary hill forest (300-1400 meters) in western Sumatra. Unmistakable if seen well; note long broad tail, burly chest, dark head, long legs, finely barred breast, and brightly-colored blue-and-pink bare facial skin. Like many other terrestrial birds, tends to run away when spooked. Very difficult to see, and best detected by its mournful, high-pitched, and slightly hollow whistled song: “gwheuw-oh-eewo’eh!” Also gives a harsh, buzzy call that sounds like someone blowing their nose.
Clay-colored Sparrow
Spizella pallida
Small, slender sparrow with short bill and long, narrow tail. Subtly patterned with pale gray and buff overall. Face usually looks crisp and clean. Most similar to Chipping and Field Sparrows, but note combination of white supercilium, plain lores, and buffy rump. Song is a series of low, insect-like buzzes. Breeds mostly in grasslands with shrubs; winters in any open, brushy, or weedy area.
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