Bonelli's Warbler 10.9.2011

10th September 2011 we had problems when ringing this 1cy Eastern/Western Bonelli's Warbler in Hanko Bird Observatory. With no call heard and all measurements between, we left this bird unidentified. More things were maybe better for Eastern but after seeing some articles and also some photos of the bird ringed in Ottenby 2006 (thanks Magnus!), which also didn't have clear emargination in P6, I became more suspicious about this Hanko bird being Eastern.

Mystery is now solved by DNA. This bird is Western one. Thanks to Urban Olsson for conducting the DNA analyses.


Western Bonelli's Warbler. Primary projection looks
long and thus points more to Eastern. Crown and
mantle colour is more greyish than warm olive-brown,
as it is said to be many times in Western.
Anyway, there is a yellow tinge in supercilium and both
the legs and bill are not very dark. Both better for Western.
Also rather plain lore is better for Western.


Western is said to have normally very clear emargination
in P6 as Eastern doesn't normally show that. As you
can see, Hanko bird showed only a hint of emargination in P6.

Here's a link to the Ottenby 2006 bird, which is also
confirmed to be Western. No emargination in P6:

http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery_imageinfo.asp?imageID=18906