Bird Guide

African Yellow Warbler vs Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

African Yellow Warbler (Iduna natalensis)

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Tiny12 gShrubland

The African yellow warbler is a medium-sized warbler in which the whole of the upperparts and tail are yellowish-brown, with a slightly browner crown and yellower rump. The wings have brown feathers edged with yellow. The underparts are bright yellow with an olive wash on the sides of the breast, flanks and lower belly. The bill is pale on the upper mandible and blackish on the lower, and the legs are blackish. Females have duller underparts, and the juveniles are similar to the males but are buffier. The total length is 13 cm (5.1 in) and the birds weigh between 10 and 15 g (0.35 and 0. Voice: The song of the African yellow warbler is a rapid series of throaty and varied notes preceded by a few raspy notes, for example, "chip-chip-chip- whee-lee-wheeo". The alarm call is a sharp "tsk" or "chirr".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida)

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Iduna pallida

Tiny9 gShrubland

It is a medium-sized warbler, more like a very pale reed warbler than its relative the melodious warbler. The adult has a plain pale brown back and whitish underparts. The bill is strong and pointed and the legs grey. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are more buff on the belly. It has a characteristic downward tail flick. The western olivaceous warbler differs from this species in being larger and having a browner tinge to the upperparts; it also has a larger bill.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Recorded by Peter Brenner · Song · Rodopi (near Profitis Ilias), East Macedonia and Thrace, Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace, Greece · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: SteveM4560 · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Yellow Warbler and Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.