western olivaceous warbler
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Western olivaceous warbler
| image = Iduna opaca CDC image.jpg
| image_caption = Collected in Zouala, Morocco, April 2011
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Iduna
| species = opaca
| authority = (Cabanis, 1851)
| synonyms = Hippolais opaca
| range_map = Iduna opaca distribution map.png
| range_map_caption = Distribution of Western Olivaceous Warbler {{leftlegend|#FFFF00|Summer Resident (Breeding)|outline=gray}} {{leftlegend|#0000FF|Winter Visitor|outline=gray}}
}}
The western olivaceous warbler (Iduna opaca), also known as isabelline warbler,Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions. {{ISBN|84-96553-06-X}}. is a "warbler", formerly placed in the Old World warblers when these were a paraphyletic wastebin taxon. It is now considered a member of the acrocephaline warblers, Acrocephalidae, in the tree warbler genus Iduna. It was formerly regarded as part of a wider "olivaceous warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, this species is now usually considered distinct from the eastern olivaceous warbler, Iduna pallida.
Characteristics
File:Iduna opaca MWNH 1708.JPG]]
It is a small passerine bird, found in dry open country, including cultivation, with bushes or some trees. Two or three eggs are laid in a nest in low undergrowth or a bush. Like most warblers, the western olivaceous warbler is insectivorous.
It is a medium-sized warbler, more like a very pale reed warbler than its relative the melodious warbler. The adults have a plain pale brown back and whitish underparts. Its body length is about {{Measurement converter|13-14|cm|in}}, wingspan {{Measurement converter|18-21|cm|in}} and weight {{Measurement converter|8-13|g|oz}}.{{Cite book |title=Ptaki Europy: przewodnik do rozpoznawania |date=2023 |publisher=Multico Oficyna Wydawnicza |isbn=978-83-7763-608-4 |editor-last=Hume |editor-first=Rob |location=Warszawa |editor-last2=Still |editor-first2=Rob |editor-last3=Swash |editor-first3=Andy |editor-last4=Cofta |editor-first4=Tomasz |editor-last5=Harrop |editor-first5=Hugh}}{{Cite web |title=Western Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna opaca) - BirdID's Bird Guide - Nord University - Birdid |url=https://www.birdid.no/bird/eBook.php?specieID=1492 |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=www.birdid.no}}{{Cite book |last=Svensson |first=Lars |title=Ptaki Europy i obszaru śródziemnomorskiego |last2=Stawarczyk |first2=Tadeusz |last3=Zetterström |first3=Dan |last4=Graszka-Petrykowski |first4=Dariusz |last5=Mullarney |first5=Killian |date=2023 |publisher=Multico Oficyna Wydawnicza |isbn=978-83-7763-647-3 |edition=Wydanie III, poprawione i zaktualizowane |series=Przewodnik Collinsa |location=Warszawa}} The bill is strong and pointed and the legs grey. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are more buff on the belly.
This species doesn't wiggle its tail or does it uncommonly. Western olivaceous warbler searches for food at different heights.
It breeds in Iberia and north Africa. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a rare vagrant to northern Europe.
The western olivaceous warbler is larger and has a browner tinge to the upperparts than the eastern olivaceous warbler. It also has a larger bill. The song is a fast nasal babbling.
Distribution
=North Africa=
The western olivaceous warbler occurs mainly as a passage migrant in southeast Morocco, although it also may breed in some densely vegetated areas there.Salewski, Volker, Herbert Stark and Bernd Leisler (2009) Olivaceous Warblers in Southeast Morocco British Birds 102(3): 116-21
References
{{Commons category|Iduna opaca}}
{{Wikispecies|Hippolais opaca|Hippolais opaca}}
{{Reflist}}
- Fregin, S., M. Haase, U. Olsson, and P. Alström. 2009. Multi-locus phylogeny of the family Acrocephalidae (Aves: Passeriformes) - the traditional taxonomy overthrown. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52: 866–878.
- Sangster, G., J.M. Collinson, P.-A. Crochet, A.G. Knox, D.T. Parkin, L. Svensson, and S.C. Votier. 2011. Taxonomic recommendations for British birds: seventh report. Ibis 153: 883–892.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q10772716}}
Category:Birds of Southern Europe
Category:Birds of North Africa
Category:Fauna of the Iberian Peninsula