Bird Guide

Common Chiffchaff vs Wood Warbler

Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Tiny8 gForest

The common chiffchaff is a small, dumpy, 10–12 centimetres (3.9–4.7 inches) long leaf warbler. The male weighs 7–8 grammes (0.28–0.31 oz), and the female 6–7 grammes (0.25–0.28 oz). The spring adult of the western nominate subspecies P. c. collybita has brown-washed dull green upperparts, off-white underparts becoming yellowish on the flanks, and a short whitish supercilium. It has dark legs, a fine dark bill, and short primary projection (extension of the flight feathers beyond the folded wing).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Common Chiffchaff
Recorded by Noé Ferrari · Song · Arrondissement d'Abbeville (near Quend), Somme, Hauts-de-France, France · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Alexis Lours · CC BY 4.0
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Tiny9 gForest

The wood warbler is 11–12.5 cm long, and a typical leaf warbler in appearance, green above and white below with a lemon-yellow breast. It can be distinguished from similar species, like the chiffchaff P. collybita and the willow warbler, P. trochilus by its yellow supercilium, throat and upper breast, pale tertial edges, longer primary projection, and by its shorter but broader tail. It is a summer visitor to the United Kingdom, seen from April until August. It has declined there in recent years. Voice: It has two song types, often (but not always) given alternately; a high-pitched fluid metallic trill of increasing tempo lasting 2–3 seconds, and a series of 3 to 5 descending piping notes of lower pitch piüü-piüü-piüü. The contact call is a soft piping note, similar to the second song type, but shorter and given singly, piü.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Wood Warbler
Recorded by Jochem verweij · Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: TRinaud · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Common Chiffchaff and Wood Warbler.