The call note of the Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita in Malta

Abstract

The Chiffchatf Phylloscopus collybita is a very common autumn migrant and winter visitor from early October to early April with concentrations of about 200 birds in winter in areas where food is plentiful, such as Lunzjata in Gozo (Sultana & Gauci 1982). An average of 1000 Chiffchaffs are ringed every year by ringers. It seems that both the nominate race and the subspecies abietinus occur, but no attempt has ever been made to assess the percentage of abietinus ringed, as the separation of these two races is rather difficult according to Svensson (1984). Some birds do look greyer than others and sizes also differ. But biometrics are not always helpful to separate these two races as wing and tail lengths overlap to a great extent (Williamson 1976). The other subspecies P.c. tristis is not difficult to separate from its plumage (Svensson i 984, & pers. obs.), and 2-5 birds belonging to this race are ringed annually.