Bird Guide

Menetries's Warbler vs Rüppell's Warbler

Menetries's Warbler (Curruca mystacea)

Menetries's Warbler

Curruca mystacea

Tiny10 gShrubland

The Menetries's warbler is 12 to 14 cm long with a wingspan of 15 to 19 cm and weighs about 9-11 grams. Its fairly long tail is blackish with white on the outer-feathers and is often held cocked. It is frequently wagged up and down or from side to side. The bill is fairly heavy and is dark with a pinkish patch at the base. There is a pale bare ring around the eye. The male of the nominate subspecies C. m. mystacea is dark greyish above and whitish below with a white submoustachial stripe and a pink throat and breast.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Rüppell's Warbler (Curruca ruppeli)

Rüppell's Warbler

Curruca ruppeli

13 gShrubland

It is a typical Curruca warbler, similar in size but slimmer than the Sardinian warbler. The adults have a plain grey back and paler grey underparts. The bill is fine and pointed, with brown legs and red eyes. The striking male has a black head and, usually, a black throat, separated by a white malar streak ("moustache"). Females have a pale throat, and the head is grey rather than black. Their grey back has a brownish tinge. The song is a slower, deeper rattle than that of the Sardinian warbler.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Heinrich von Kittlitz · Public domain

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Menetries's Warbler and Rüppell's Warbler.