First record of the Greenish warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides in the Maltese Islands

Abstract

On 9th December, 2002 a bird which when extracted from a mist-net at the Ghadira Nature Reserve was presumed to be a Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, the only leaf warbler usually present at the time, on closer examination turned out to be a Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides. When the bird was taken out of the bird-bag to be ringed it was immediately noticed that it had very white underparts and a conspicuous broad wing bar. Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis initially came to mind; however, the wing formula did not agree with this species.