Phylloscopus collybita - Chiffchaff
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.76-0.90 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Occasionally some pigment may also be found in parts of distal internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (40-42 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent, although in some cases minute prongs may be found on distal end. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 11 cm. Weight 7.5 g (5.7-9.2) (Dunning, 1993). Small, mainly greenish or brownish warbler without any obvious field marks. Various subspecies occur within region, differing mainly in colour but sometimes in voice as well. Most common subspecies within region, collybita, shows olive upperparts, buffish-yellow breast band and flanks, whitish belly, and greenish edges on flight feathers; buff or yellowish supercilium not very prominent, bordered below by dark eye-stripe. Subspecies abietinus, occurring in Fenno-Scandia, greyer above and whiter below. Legs always dark, sometimes black. Subspecies brehmii from Pyrenees and Iberian Peninsula like collybita in plumage, but song differs. Differs from Willow Warbler in shorter wings, greyer or browner plumage, (usually) dark legs, call, and habit of frequently flicking wings and tail. Sexes similar. Juvenile similar to adult, but often somewhat yellower or greyer and body feathering more fluffy.
Voice. Call 'hwiet'. Song of collybita and abietinus a monotonous 'chif chaf-chif chaf'; of brehmii more varied, starting and ending with clipped 'tit' calls with drawn-out 'tswee'-phrases in the middle.
Distribution. Very common summer visitor. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Occurs in variety of habitats with trees and bushes, like parks and deciduous and mixed woods. Requires higher trees than Willow Warbler.
Food. Mainly insects. Often feeds on the ground.