Sylvia hortensis - Orphean Warbler
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.67-0.71 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented internodes. Occasionally some pigment may also be found in parts of internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (34-38 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Distally, nodes may be more elongated. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 15 cm. Weight 22.2 g (22.0-24.0) (Dunning, 1993). Larger and bulkier than Blackcap and Sardinian Warbler. Head dark grey, ear coverts almost black. Upperparts greyish-brown, wings and tail slightly darker. Tail with obvious white edgings. Breast with slight pinkish wash, flanks with greyish wash, throat, belly and undertail white. Female and juvenile slightly duller than male. Iris of adult male yellow, of female yellowish or light brown-grey, of juvenile dark iris (but colour sometimes difficult to see). Juvenile rather like juvenile Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca, not included in BRIS) but larger and more heavily built, with longer and thicker bill, without (faint) eye-ring, and with darker undertail-coverts (whitish in Lesser Whitethroat). Hops heavily through branches and foliage. Very shy and difficult to see.
Voice. Call like Blackcap 'teck'. Song warbling; repetitive and simple in south-west Europe, more nightingale-like in south-east.
Distribution. Locally rather common. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. In orchards, groves, open woodland, and tall maquis.
Food. Invertebrates and fruits. Usually stays in dense cover.