Phylloscopus bonelli
The Western Bonelli's Warbler, *Phylloscopus bonelli*, is a small, rather plain passerine, approximately 11-12 cm in length with a wingspan of 17-20 cm and weighing 7-10g. Its appearance is characterized by olive-green to greenish-grey upperparts, contrasting with clean whitish underparts, and a distinctive yellowish rump patch often visible in flight or during active foraging. Key field marks include its pale, often pinkish-brown legs, a faint pale supercilium, and the absence of wing bars, ...
This warbler prefers dry, open deciduous or mixed woodlands, often with a scrubby understory, including olive groves, pine forests, and maquis, typically on hillsides up to 2000m.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small moths, caterpillars, beetles, flies, aphids, and spiders. Occasionally supplements its diet with small berries, especially during migration.
Western Bonelli's Warblers are diurnal and highly active insectivores, constantly moving through foliage. They forage primarily by gleaning insects from leaves and twigs in the canopy and mid-story, but will also sally forth to catch flying insects in a 'flycatching' manner. Males establish and d...
The Western Bonelli's Warbler has a breeding range primarily spanning Western Europe and parts of Northwest Africa. Its core breeding distribution includes the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal), France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and localized areas of Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. I...
Least Concern
- The Western Bonelli's Warbler was historically considered conspecific with the Eastern Bonelli's Warbler (*Phylloscopus orientalis*) until 2003, when distinct vocalizations and genetic differences led to their taxonomic split. - Its scientific name honors Italian ornithologist Franco Andrea Bon...