Gray-crowned Warbler
Phylloscopus tephrocephalus
Lively medium-sized warbler; a typical member of the “golden-spectacled” complex, with a bright yellow eyering, gray-and-black crown, greenish upperparts, and daisy-yellow underparts. Very similar in appearance to closely-related Bianchi’s, Whistler’s, Martens’s, White-spectacled, and Plain-tailed Warblers. On Gray-crowned, look out for a combination of features: a thin break at the rear of the eyering, a strong gray-and-black head pattern, bright greenish upperparts, and bright yellow underparts. Breeds from the lower foothills up to montane forests and forest edges, roughly between 1200 and 2500 meters of elevation, though elevational range depends on location; averages lower in elevation than Bianchi’s and Whistler’s Warblers, higher than Plain-tailed, and roughly the same range as White-spectacled and Martens’s. Winters in open forests and forest edge in foothills and lowlands. Forages at lower levels in the forest. Song is composed of short bright segments, usually starting with 1-2 introductory notes and ended with 1-2 musical trills or rapid series. White-spectacled has a similar song, but generally with fewer trills and at a lower pitch. Gray-crowned’s call is a rather cricket-like “chirrip.”
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Phylloscopus tephrocephalus
- Authority
- (Anderson, 1871)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Phylloscopidae
- Genus
- Phylloscopus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- OR : ne India to n Vietnam and c China
- Non-breeding range
- n se Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-throated Nicator
Nicator vireo
A shy but loud bird of forests and forest edges that usually stays within cover. Shaped like a greenbul, but has a thicker, more robust bill. Shows grayish underparts, greenish upperparts, yellow spots on the tips of the flight feathers and upperwing coverts, a yellow throat, and yellow lores. Similar to the larger Western Nicator, but note Yellow-throated’s smaller size, yellow throat and lores, and distinctive song, which often betrays its presence: a sputtering series of notes that can be surprisingly resonant and loud, a “p-p-p-po-keer-ko-wheeeer-pop” and other variations. Call is a growling trill, “prrrrrr.”
Spiny Babbler
Turdoides nipalensis
Plain brown babbler with pale eyes and well-streaked underparts. Note the chalky-white face patch in most individuals, though this is more limited or near-absent in a few. Forages on or near the ground in hilly areas with dense scrub cover. Musical thrush-like song often incorporates imitations of other species.
Rufous Fieldwren
Calamanthus campestris
Small bird of open arid shrubland and grasslands. Pale brown above, whitish below, with distinct pale supercilium, faint chest streaking, and long, cocked tail. Forages quietly on the ground or in thick vegetation, where difficult to see. Most easily observed when males sing in spring, as they perch up in the vegetation. Similar to Western Fieldwren but no range overlap. Compare Shy Heathwren, which has a white wing spot and darker legs.
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