Subalpine Warbler: Andalucia Bird Society’s ‘Bird of the Month’

Although we are all familiar with this common summer visitor it was surprising, during the course of a little research, to learn that so little is actually known about this small warbler.

In fact, most sources of reference ask those with the necessary expertise to add to written accounts on this species. To complicate our birding here in Andalucía there are 3 so-called species, which are all possible after these were separated (by some authorities) from being just subspecies not so long ago. Our most common and widespread, I will say subspecies, species is Sylvia inornata the so-called Western Subalpine Warbler, but I’ve seen the Eastern Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans in my local area as well as S. subalpine or Moltoni’s Warbler (please see note below). It can get very confusing, so an up to date field guide will help you keep a lookout for these differing subspecies/species.

A beautiful spring plumage Subalpine Warbler male – Serranía de Ronda

Here in Andalucía our summer resident birds favour tall and dense heterogeneous maquis with sparse tree cover in dry Mediterranean areas, particularly maquis of holm oak (Quercus ilex) and those dominated by the strawberry tree (Arbutus) and tree-heath (Erica); common also in young cork oak (Quercus suber) forest and in dense but treeless bushy areas. Frequents bushy formations dominated by brambles (Rubus fruticosus) along sunny ravines and valley bottoms.

Note. Until recently S. cantillans was considered conspecific with S. subalpina. Race inornata also proposed for species rank in course of separation of S. subalpina and description of iberiae, but plumage differences relatively weak and call differences only slight. Some authors propose that albistriata be treated as a full species, but many consider evidence not conclusive. Has apparently hybridized with S. melanocephala. Four subspecies are recognised. More to come on this I suspect.