In a countryside garden in Caithness today. Very active amongst the willows. Is it a WW?
I would say Chiffchaff David but it's a much debated bird at the moment ;-)
Post edit:
Chiffchaff v Willow Warbler ...cropping up all the time the now ;-)
Oh and please wait for the experts as I ain't often right lol
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Leg colour is not a reliable diagnostic feature, it is pretty variable in WW yet it is regularly mistakenly referred to on this forum as if a definitive feature. Primary length is long enough for me, however the clinching feature is the the pale area beneath the eye which does not appear on Chiffchaff, whose faces are darker and plainer.
Hi
this is a great learning photo as it shows 100% SLAM DUNKING blatant Willow warbler features
1- face pattern
2- leg colour
as noted by previous poster- legs are brown and the cheek has a pale centre
Also the eye ring and facial expression ( nice yellowish upper eyering and lack of obvious prominent white lower eyering due to paler cheek centre )
3-
THE BIG ONE- literally - this bird has a HUGE primary projection !!!
It's a Willow Warbler
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
Since Legs arnt the only feature you put other things aswell which is a good thing cause
there very similar. but thought It might still be a good idea to mention exspeacialy Since they can cause confusion sometimes. Chiffchaff Often have dark legs.
I’m not saying your wrong but rather I Think it might be a good idea to mention it.
Chiffchaff often have dark legs. Not allways. Just often.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/chiffchaff/
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/willow-warbler/
Hi I have been birding since the 1970s- I've seen less than a dozen Chiffchaffs with pale legs: IMHO 99% plus of Chiffs have dark legs. I've seen even less Willow Warblers with extremely dark legs. My local patch includes a bird observatory and I see a lot of both spp. I HAVE been asked to look at individuals of both species with apparently atypical legs and in most cases it has been down to either overly bright or bad light or poor optics. Personally I go straight for the primary projection , face pattern and overall body shape: I saw my first WW of the year yesterday- it was against the light in a willow tree and leg colour wasn't even a consideration , S