A tricky phyllosc

Last week, in the Botanical Gardens, I bumped into an unknown plain-coloured phyllosc (no wingbars) with olive-brown upperparts, olive fringes to wings and tail, buff wash on flanks and breast. The bird was feeding at eyes level among small trees and also on top of a wall. It did not call.

It was clearly not a Dusky Warbler (always mid to dark brown above; no olive is ever apparent in the upperparts). At first, I thought it was a Radde’s - a bird I am now quite familiar with - but the jizz and some color pattern details did not match. Its clearly demarcated pale throat contrasting with the brownish breast first drew my attention; this was very obvious in the field (in frontal view). The throat also appeared somewhat puffy. Moreover the bird did not show the large-headed, somewhat bull-necked appearance of the Radde’s.

Once I got home and examined my pictures, I also noticed the striking broad and rather uniform supercilium (lacking strong contrast between fore and rear parts, only very faintly browner to the fore), the pale orange legs unremarkable in size (thick tarsi in Radde’s), the lack of contrasting peachy vent. The bird also show yellow streaks on the underparts – but Radde’s can also be streaked; so that is not a clinching ID feature.

After checking the photos against Brazil (2009) and especially various internet based resources, I identified it as Yellow-streaked Warbler, an uncommon winter visitor in Vietnam, apparently only recorded from the north of the country (and already recorded at Hanoi by Falk and Simon few years ago).

It seems that Yellow-streaked is a particularly difficult bird to tie down unless you hear the call (a metallic bunting-like tzic). That is why I'd be happy to hear experienced birders opinion, especially those who have already observed this species.

Sebastien

Here a bunch of shots (sorry for the "concentration camp" atmosphere):

Note the breast band (most easily judged when the bird is in shade, as sunlight tends to work out the colour ) contrasting with the pale throat, the yellow streaks on flanks, the broad and rather uniform supercilium.

Red river island, 16-4-11

Hi all, An excellent morning was spent on the island today, covering the corn fields and the little patch of forest. The more notable species were, - 1 Manchurian Reed Warbler (heard singing in one of the weed fields on the plain between the woodland and the banana plantation and brief views) - 1 Yellow-streaked Warbler (singing in the woodland) - 1 probable Baikal Bush Warbler - 1 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo - 1 male Burmese Shrike - 2 Mugimaki Flycatchers - 1 Manchurian Bush Warbler - 1 Orange-headed Thrush - Luscinia-galore: couple of Bluethroats, Siberian Rubythroats and a fine male Siberian Blue Robin - Phylloscs: Radde's, Dusky, Two-barred Greenish, Arctic, Yellow-browed, Eastern Crowned, Greenish, Pale-legged plus the above mentioned Yellow-streaked - at least 2 Black-faced Buntings - 2 Little Buntings plus nice sightings of a gorgeous breeding-plumaged Citrine Wagtail and Red-throated Pipit, 2 Black-naped Orioles, Black-shouldered Kites, a chorus of White-breasted Waterhens, lots of Black-naped Monarchs and red-throated Taiga Flycatchers, 1 Oriental Turtle Dove and a big flock of Scaly-breasted Munias. Wow, that's actually a lot of birds (not mentioning the commoner species)! Did I forget anything, Simon? Cheers, Simon and Falk

Botanical gardens 10/09/10

A good morning in the botanical gardens with one each of Green-backed Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Arctic Warbler and the good old Tiger Shrike still lurking in the magic corner.

Simon


Edit: Went there just after Simon, but did not find the Green-backed any more. Instead: 3 Shrikes (2 brown, 1 not seen well) and Hill Blue Fly. Around the pond near the motorbike parking: 2 Arctic Warbler, one Ceicercus very much like the one Seb saw, 1 more Phyllos and a female Yellow-rumped Fly. Florian

Went there probably after Florian (very busy the mozzy corner these days !). Seen 3 Ceicercus Warbler - same style than the ones before - : 1 near the magical corner, and 2 together around the huge banian at the eastern part of the park. Didn't find the Green-backed Flycatcher too. But I will come back soon ! Sebastien.