Chiffchaff
Subspecies tristis in India Birdsong (help·info)
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae Genus: Phylloscopus Species: P. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future Least Concern ( LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Phylloscopidae is a newly described family of small Insectivorous Birds formerly placed in the Old World warbler family. Leaf-warblers are small Insectivorous Birds belonging to the Genus Phylloscopus. collybita
Binomial name
Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817)
1. Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot ( May 10, 1748 - 1831 was a French Ornithologist. Breeding; summer only 2. Breeding; small numbers also wintering 3. Breeding; also common in winter 4. Non-breeding winter visitor 5. Localised non-breeding winter visitor in suitable habitat only (oases, irrigated crops)

The Common Chiffchaff or simply Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, is a common and widespread leaf warbler, named for its distinctive onomatopoeic song, which breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia. Leaf-warblers are small Insectivorous Birds belonging to the Genus Phylloscopus. Onomatopoeia (also spelled onomatopœia, from Greek: ονοματοποιΐα is a Word or a grouping of words that imitates the sound it is describing

It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of Birds Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability Greenish-brown above and off-white below, it is named for its simple chiff-chaff song. It has a number of subspecies, some of which are now treated as full species. The female builds a domed nest on or near the ground, and assumes most of the responsibility for brooding and feeding the chicks, whilst the male has little involvement in nesting, but defends his territory against rivals, and attacks potential predators.

A small insectivorous bird, it is subject to predation by mammals, such as cats and mustelids, and birds, particularly hawks of the genus Accipiter. An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures Mustelidae or Mustelids (from Latin mustela, Weasel) commonly referred to as the weasel family, is a family of carnivorous Mammals The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, mostly consisting of birds known as Goshawks and Sparrowhawks It may also acquire external or internal parasites. Parasitism is a type of symbiotic relationship between Organisms of different Species. Its large range and population mean that its status is secure, although one subspecies is probably extinct.

Contents 1 Taxonomy 1.1 Subspecies 1.2 Former subspecies 1.3 Etymology 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 4.1 Territory 4.2 Breeding 4.3 Feeding 5 Predators and threats 6 Status 7 References 8 External links

Taxonomy

The British naturalist Gilbert White was one of the first people to separate the similar-looking Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler by their songs, as detailed in 1789 in The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne,^[2] but the Chiffchaff was first formally described as Sylvia collybita by French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1817 in his Nouvelle Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands This article is about the 18th-century English naturalist For the 20th-century American geographer see Gilbert F The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, or just The Natural History of Selborne was a book by pioneering English naturalist This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Ornithology (from Greek ὄρνις ὄρνιθος ornis, ornithos, "bird" and λόγος logos, "knowledge" is the branch of Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot ( May 10, 1748 - 1831 was a French Ornithologist. ^[3]

Described by German zoologist Heinrich Boie in 1826, the genus Phylloscopus contains about 50 species of small insectivorous Old World woodland warblers which are either greenish or brown above and yellowish, white or buff below. Heinrich Boie ( May 4, 1784 - September 4, 1827) was a German Zoologist. The genus was formerly part of the Old World Warbler family Sylvidae, but has now been split off as a separate family Phylloscopidae. The " Old World Warblers " family Sylviidae are a family of small Passerine Bird species the names sylviid warblers ^[4] The Chiffchaff's closest relatives, other than former subspecies, are a group of leaf warblers which similarly lack crown stripes, a yellow rump or obvious wing bars; they include the Willow, Bonelli's, Wood and Plain Leaf Warblers. UserPolbot. -->The Plain Leaf-Warbler ( Phylloscopus neglectus) is a species of Old World warbler in ^[5]

The Chiffchaff has three still commonly accepted subspecies, together with some from the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and the Caucasus which are now more often treated as full species. The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra The Canary Islands ( English pronunciation kəˈnæriː ˈaɪləndz Spanish: Islas Canarias, ˈizlas kaˈnarjas are a Spanish The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East ^[6][7]

Subspecies

• P. c. collybita, the nominate form, breeds in Europe east to Poland and Bulgaria, and is described below. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian It mainly winters in the south of its breeding range around the Mediterranean and in North Africa. North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan ^[5] It has been expanding its range northwards into Scandinavia since 1970 and close to the southern edge of the range of P. c. abietinus. ^[8]

• P. c. abietinus occurs in Scandinavia and northern Russia, and winters from southeastern Europe and northeastern Africa east to Iraq and western Iran. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. It is intermediate in appearance between P. c. tristis and P. c. collybita, being grey-washed olive-green above with a pale yellow supercilium, and underparts whiter than in P. c. collybita,^[9] but it has very similar vocalisations to the nominate subspecies. ^[5] Due to individual variation, it can be difficult to reliably separate P. c. abietinus and P. c. collybita outside their main breeding and wintering ranges. ^[9]

• P. (c. ) tristis, the Siberian Chiffchaff, breeds in Siberia east of the Pechora River and winters in the lower Himalayas. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Pechora (Печо́ра Komi: Печӧра Nenets: Санэроˮ яха is a major River in European Russia ( Komi Republic ^[5] It is a dull subspecies, grey or brownish above and whitish below, with little yellow in the plumage, and the buff-white supercilium is often longer than in the western subspecies. It has a higher pitched suitsistsuisit song and a short high-pitched cheet call. ^[9] It is sometimes considered to be a full species due to its distinctive plumage and vocalisations, being similar to P. s. sindianus in these respects. ^[10][11] Nominate P. c. collybita and P. c. tristis do not recognize each other's songs. ^[12][13] Pending resolution of the status of P. (c. ) fulvescens, which is found where the ranges of P. c. abietinus and P. c. tristis connect and may^[14] or may not^[13] be a hybrid between these, tristis is maintained in P. collybita. ^[7]

Former subspecies

• P. ibericus, the Iberian Chiffchaff is brighter, greener on the rump, and yellower below than P. collybita,^[5] and has a tit-tit-tit-tswee-tswee song. It was initially named P. brehmii, but the type specimen of that taxon is not an Iberian Chiffchaff. In biology a type is that which fixes a name to a Taxon. Depending on the nomenclature code which is applied to the organism in question a type may be a specimen A taxon (plural taxa) or taxonomic unit, is a name designating an organism or a group of Organisms In Biological nomenclature according to ^[15] This species is found in Portugal and Spain, west of a line stretching roughly from the western Pyrenees^[16] via the mountains of central Spain to the Mediterranean; the Iberian and Common Chiffchaffs co-occur in a narrow band along this line. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Pyrenees (Pirineos French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés ^[17] Apart from the northernmost section, the precise course of the contact zone is not well-documented. A long-distance migrant, this species winters in western Africa. Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of Birds Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability It differs from P. c. collybita in vocalisations,^[16][18][11] external morphology,^[19] and mtDNA sequences. The term morphology in Biology refers to the outward appearance ( Shape, Structure, Colour, Pattern) of an Organism Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. A DNA sequence or genetic sequence is a succession of letters representing the Primary structure of a real or hypothetical DNA Molecule ^[20][11] There is hybridization in the contact zone,^[16][18][21], almost always between male P. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. ibericus and female P. p. collybita,^[21] and hybrids apparently show much decreased fitness;^[20] hybrid females appear to be sterile according to Haldane's Rule. Fitness (often denoted w in Population genetics models is a central concept in evolutionary theory. Female infertility|Male infertility Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a Man or a Woman to contribute to conception. Haldane's rule relating to hybrids of Species and extended to Speciation in Evolutionary theory is easily stated When in the offspring of ^[22] Regarding the latter aspect, it is interesting to note that the Iberian Chiffchaff apparently is the oldest lineage of chiffchaffs and quite distinct from the Common Chiffchaff. ^[11]

• P. canariensis, the Canary Islands Chiffchaff is a non-migratory species formerly occurring on the major Canary Islands, which is differentiated from P. The Canary Islands Chiffchaff ( Phylloscopus canariensis) is a Species of Leaf warbler endemic to the Canary Islands, Spain collybita by morphology, vocalisations and genetic characteristics, and, of course, is not sympatric with any other chiffchaffs. The nominate western subspecies P. c. canariensis of El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria is smaller than Common Chiffchaff, and has shorter, rounder wings. Isla de La Palma (known in English as "La Palma" not to be confused with "Palma" in the Balearic Islands is a Spanish volcanic ocean island an entirely different island is Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera off Morocco La Gomera is the second-smallest of Spain's Canary Islands Tenerife (previously known and spelled as "Teneriffe" in English before mass tourism adopted the Spanish spelling a Spanish Island, is the largest Gran Canaria (in English " Grand Canary " is an island of the Canary Islands, an Archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean 210 km from ^[11] It is olive-brown above and has a buff breast and flanks;^[5] it has a rich deep chip-cheep-cheep-chip-chip-cheep song, and a call similar to the nominate race. ^[9] The eastern P. c. exsul of Lanzarote and possibly Fuerteventura is paler above and less rufous below than its western relative,^[5] and had a harsher call;^[9] it might have been a distinct species,^[7] but it became extinct in 1986 at latest, probably much earlier. The Eastern Canary Islands Chiffchaff or Lanzarote Island Chiffchaff ( Phylloscopus canariensis exsul) was a Subspecies of the Canary Islands Chiffchaff Lanzarote, a Spanish Island, is the easternmost of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 125 km off the coast of Africa Fuerteventura, a Spanish Island, is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. The reasons for its extinction are unclear, but it appears always to have been scarce and localised, occurring only in the Haria Valley of Lanzarote. ^[23]

• P. sindianus, the Mountain Chiffchaff, is found in the Caucasus (P. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East s. lorenzii) and Himalayas (P. s. sindianus), and is an altitudinal migrant, moving to lower levels in winter. The nominate subspecies is similar to P. c. tristis, but with a finer darker bill, browner upperparts and buff flanks; its song is almost identical to P. collybita, but the call is a weak psew. P. s. lorenzii is warmer and darker brown than the nominate race;^[5] it is sympatric with Common Chiffchaff in a small area in the Western Caucasus, but interbreeding occurs rarely, if ever. Sympatric speciation is the genetic divergence of various populations (from a single parent species inhabiting the same geographic region such that those populations become different ^[10] The Mountain Chiffchaff differs from tristis in vocalisations,^[24][10] external morphology,^[25] and mtDNA sequences. The term morphology in Biology refers to the outward appearance ( Shape, Structure, Colour, Pattern) of an Organism Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. A DNA sequence or genetic sequence is a succession of letters representing the Primary structure of a real or hypothetical DNA Molecule ^[11] Its two subspecies appear to be distinct vocally,^[10] and also show some difference in mtDNA sequences;^[11] they are maintained at subspecies rank pending further research. ^[7]

Etymology

The Chiffchaff’s English name is onomatopoeic, referring to the repetitive chiff-chaff song of the European subspecies. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States ^[26] There are similar names in some other European languages, such as German Zilpzalp and Welsh siff-saff. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Welsh ( cy Cymraeg or cy y Gymraeg, kəmˈrɑːɨɡ and {{IPA|[ə ɡəmˈrɑːɨɡ]}}, is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic The binomial name is of Greek origin; Phylloscopus comes from phyllon/φυλλον, "leaf", and skopeo/σκοπεω, "to look at" or "to see",^[27] since this genus comprises species that spend much of their time feeding in trees, while collybita is a corruption of kollubistes, "money changer", the song being likened to the jingling of coins. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly ^[26]

Description

The Chiffchaff is a small, dumpy, 10–12 centimetres (4 in) long leaf warbler. The male weighs 7–8 grammes (0. 28–0. 31 oz), and the female 6–7 grammes (0. 25–0. 28 oz). The spring adult of the western nominate subspecies P. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. c. collybita has brown-washed dull green upperparts, off-white underparts becoming yellowish on the flanks, and a short whitish supercilium. The term supercilium is a name for a Plumage feature present on the heads of many bird species It has dark legs, a fine dark bill, and short primary projection (extension of the flight feathers beyond the folded wing). Flight feathers are the long stiff asymmetrically shaped but symmetrically paired Feathers on the Wings or Tail of a Bird; those on the Flight feathers are the long stiff asymmetrically shaped but symmetrically paired Feathers on the Wings or Tail of a Bird; those on the As the plumage wears, it gets duller and browner, and the yellow on the flanks tends to be lost, but after the breeding season there is a prolonged complete moult before migration. In Biology, moulting (or molting, also known as shedding or for some species Ecdysis) signifies the manner in which an animal routinely ^[9] The newly-fledged juvenile is browner above than the adult, with yellow-white underparts, but moults about 10 weeks after acquiring its first plumage. After moulting, both the adult and the juvenile have brighter and greener upperparts and a paler supercilium. ^[9]

This warbler gets its name from its simple distinctive song, a repetitive cheerful chiff-chaff. This song is one of the first avian signs that spring has returned. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Its call is a hweet, less disyllabic than the hooeet of the Willow Warbler or hu-it of the Western Bonelli's Warbler. A syllable ( Greek:) is a unit of organization for a sequence of speech sounds Bonelli's Warbler is a " Warbler " in the Leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. ^[28]

The song differs from that of the Iberian Chiffchaff, which has a shorter djup djup djup wheep wheep chittichittichiittichitta. However, mixed singers occur in the hybridisation zone and elsewhere, and can be difficult to allocate to species. ^[21]

When not singing, the Chiffchaff can be difficult to distinguish from other leaf warblers with greenish upperparts and whitish underparts, particularly the Willow Warbler. However, that species has a longer primary projection, a sleeker, brighter appearance and generally pale legs. Bonelli's Warbler (P. bonelli) might be confused with the eastern Chiffchaff subspecies tristis, but it has a plain face and green in the wings. ^[9] The Chiffchaff also has rounded wings in flight, and a diagnostic tail movement consisting of a dip, then sidewards wag, that distinguishes it from other Phylloscopus warblers^[29] and gives rise to the name "tailwagger" in India. ^[23]

Perhaps the greatest challenge is distinguishing non-singing birds of the nominate subspecies from Iberian Chiffchaff in the field. In Great Britain and the Netherlands, all accepted records of vagrant Iberian Chiffchaffs relate to singing males. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands ^[21]

Distribution and habitat

The Chiffchaff breeds across Europe and Asia east to eastern Siberia and north to about 70^oN, with isolated populations in northwest Africa, northern and western Turkey and northwestern Iran. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. ^[9] It is migratory, but it is one of the first passerine birds to return to its breeding areas in the spring and among the last to leave in late autumn. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. ^[28][29] When breeding, it is a bird of open woodlands with some taller trees and ground cover for nesting purposes. These trees are typically at least 5 metres (16 ft) high, with undergrowth that is an open, poor to medium mix of grasses, bracken, nettles or similar plants. Brackens ( Pteridium) are a genus of about ten species of large coarse Ferns in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Its breeding habitat is quite specific, and even near relatives do not share it; for example, the Willow Warbler (P. The Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus, is a very common and widespread Leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and trochilus) prefers younger trees, while the Wood Warbler (P. This article refers to the Eurasian leaf warbler For American wood warblers see New World warbler. sibilatrix) prefers less undergrowth. ^[9] In winter, the Chiffchaff uses a wider range of habitats including scrub, and is not so dependent on trees. It is often found near water, unlike the Willow Warbler which tolerates drier habitats. There is an increasing tendency to winter in western Europe well north of the traditional areas, especially in coastal southern England and the mild urban microclimate of London. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the Climate differs from the surrounding area London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. ^[9] These overwintering Chiffchaffs include some visitors of the eastern subspecies abietinus and tristis, so they are certainly not all birds which have bred locally, although some undoubtedly are. ^[29]

Behaviour

Territory

The male Chiffchaff is highly territorial during the breeding season, with a core territory typically 20 metres (66 ft) across, which is fiercely defended against other males. Other small birds may also be attacked. The male is inquisitive and fearless, attacking even dangerous predators like the stoat if they approach the nest, as well as egg-thieves like the Eurasian Jay. The Eurasian Jay ( Garrulus glandarius) occurs over a vast region from Western Europe and north-west Africa to the eastern seaboard of Asia ^[9] His song, given from a favoured prominent vantage point, appears to be used to advertise an established territory and contact the female, rather than as a paternity guard strategy. ^[30]

Beyond the core territory, there is a larger feeding range which is variable in size, but typically ten or more times the area of the breeding territory. It is believed that the female has a larger feeding range than the male. ^[9] After breeding has finished, this species abandons its territory, and may join small flocks including other warblers prior to migration. ^[29]

Breeding

The male Chiffchaff returns to its breeding territory two or three weeks before the female and immediately starts singing to establish ownerships and attract a female. When a female is located, the male will use a slow butterfly-like flight as part of the courtship ritual, but once a pair-bond has been established, other females will be driven from the territory. The male has little involvement in the nesting process other than defending the territory. ^[9] The female's nest is built on or near the ground in a concealed site in brambles, nettles or other dense low vegetation. The domed nest has a side entrance, and is constructed from coarse plant material such as dead leaves and grass, with finer material used on the interior before the addition of a lining of feathers. The typical nest is 12. 5 centimetres (5 in) high and 11 centimetres (4 in) across. ^[9]

The clutch is two to seven (normally five or six) cream-coloured eggs which have tiny ruddy, purple or blackish spots and are about 1. 5 centimetres (0. 6 in) long and 1. 2 centimetres (0. 5 in) across. They are incubated by the female for 13–14 days before hatching as naked, blind altricial chicks. Altricial means "requiring nourishment" and refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or ^[9] The female broods and feeds the chicks for another 14–15 days until they fledge. The male rarely participates in feeding, although this sometimes occurs, especially when bad weather limits insect supplies or if the female disappears. After fledging, the young stay in the vicinity of the nest for three to four weeks, and are fed by and roost with the female, although these interactions reduce after approximately the first 14 days. In the north of the range there is only time to raise one brood, due to the short summer, but a second brood is common in central and southern areas. ^[9]

Although pairs stay together during the breeding season and polygamy is uncommon, even if the male and female return to the same site in the following year there is no apparent recognition or fidelity. The term polygamy (a Greek word meaning "the practice of multiple marriage" is used in related ways in Social anthropology, Sociobiology, and Interbreeding with other species, other than those formerly considered as subspecies of P. collybita, is rare, but a few examples are known of hybridisation with the Willow Warbler. Such hybrids give mixed songs, but the latter alone is not proof of interspecific breeding. ^[9]

Feeding

Like most Old World warblers, this small species is insectivorous, moving restlessly though foliage or briefly hovering. An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures It has been recorded as taking insects, mainly flies, from more than 50 families, along with other small and medium-sized invertebrates. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of It will take the eggs and larvae of butterflies and moths, particularly those of the Winter Moth. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example Lepidoptera is an order of Insect that includes Moths and butterflies. The Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata is a Moth of the family Geometridae. ^[9] The Chiffchaff has been estimated to require about one-third of its weight in insects daily, and it feeds almost continuously in the autumn to put on extra fat as fuel for the long migration flight. ^[9]

Predators and threats

As with most small birds, mortality in the first year of life is high, but adults aged three to four years are regularly recorded, and the record is more than seven years. Eggs, chicks and fledglings of this ground-nesting species are taken by stoats, weasels and crows such as the European Magpie, and the adults are hunted by birds of prey, particularly the Sparrowhawk. Weasels are Mammals in the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family. The European Magpie ( Pica pica) is a resident breeding Bird throughout Europe, much of Asia, and northwest Africa. Birds of prey are Birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing using their keen senses especially vision The Accipitridae is one of the two major families within the order Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey) Small birds are also at the mercy of the weather, particularly when migrating, but also on the breeding and wintering grounds. ^[9]

The Chiffchaff is occasionally a host of brood parasitic cuckoos, including the Common and Horsfield's Cuckoos,^[31] but it recognises and rejects non-mimetic eggs and is therefore only rarely successfully brood-parasitised. Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood-parasitism, a kind of Kleptoparasitism found among Birds Fish or Insects The cuckoos are a family Cuculidae, of Near passerine Birds The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos also includes the The Common Cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus) (formerly European Cuckoo is a member of the Cuckoo order of Birds the Cuculiformes which also includes the Horsfield's Cuckoo or Oriental Cuckoo ( Cuculus optatus) is a Bird belonging to the genus Cuculus in the Cuckoo family Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have ^[32] Like other passerine birds, the Chiffchaff can also acquire intestinal nematode parasites and external ticks. The nematodes or roundworms ( Phylum Nematoda from Greek (nema "thread" + -ode "like" are one of the most common ^[33][34]

The main effect of humans on this species is indirect, through woodland clearance which affects the habitat, predation by cats, and collisions with windows, buildings and cars. Only the first of these has the potential to seriously affect populations, but given the huge geographical spread of P. c. abietinus and P. c. tristis, and woodland conservation policies in the range of P. c. collybita, the Chiffchaff's future seems assured. ^[9]

Status

The Chiffchaff has an enormous range, with an estimated global extent of 10 million square kilometres (3. 8 million square miles) and a population of 60–120 million individuals in Europe alone. Although global population trends have not been quantified, the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (that is, declining more than 30 percent in ten years or three generations). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global For these reasons, the species is evaluated as "least concern". ^[1]

None of the major subspecies is under threat, but exsul, as noted above, is probably extinct. The range of at least collybita seems to be expanding, with northward advances in Scotland, Norway and Sweden and a large population increase in Denmark. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe ^[29]

References

External links

• BBC Science and Nature: BBC Chiffchaff site
• BBC Science and Nature: Common Chiffchaff song (Real Audio streaming)
• Internet Bird Collection: Common Chiffchaff videos
• RSPB: Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
• Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta

RealAudio is a proprietary Audio format developed by RealNetworks. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB) is a British Charitable organisation which works to promote conservation and protection

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