First genetically confirmed Eastern Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans for Sweden

Stephen Menzie,Marcel Gil-Velasco,J Martin Collinson

doi:10.34080/os.v25.22554

Stephen Menzie, Marcel Gil-Velasco + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.34080/os.v25.22554

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Abstract

An adult male Sylvia cantillans sensu lato was ringed at Falsterbo Bird Observatory on 19 May 2013. Plumage, biometry and calls suggested an Eastern Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans sensu stricto, recently given species status by the Swedish taxonomy committee. As of 2012, there are seventy accepted Subalpine Warbler records in Sweden but none has been assigned to any of the three new splits: Western (inornata), Eastern (cantillans) or Moltoni’s (subalpina) Warbler. A genetic analysis of the Falsterbo bird showed it to be Sylvia cantillans albistriata, the first of this taxon to be unequivocally identified in Sweden.

Highlights

On 19th May 2013, during daily standardised ringing at Falsterbo Bird Observatory, Skåne, Sweden, MGV extracted a male subalpine warbler Sylvia cantillans sensu lato from a mist-net north of Falsterbo Lighthouse garden
With a deep vinous-red breast extending as far as the fore-flanks and contrasting with the white rear-flanks and belly, and a broad white moustache stripe (Figure 1), immediately suggested that the bird was of an Eastern Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans sensu stricto, recently afforded specific status by Svensson (2013a)
All records are accepted as ‘subalpine warbler’, though a reassessment of accepted records may allow the acceptance of some individuals as iberiae/inornata, subalpine, or cantillans/ albistriata, treated as of 2014 as three species by the Swedish Taxonomic Committee following Svensson (2013a)

Summary

Introduction

On 19th May 2013, during daily standardised ringing at Falsterbo Bird Observatory, Skåne, Sweden, MGV extracted a male subalpine warbler Sylvia cantillans sensu lato from a mist-net north of Falsterbo Lighthouse garden. Biometry and calls suggested an Eastern Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans sensu stricto, recently given species status by the Swedish taxonomy committee. As of 2012, there are seventy accepted Subalpine Warbler records in Sweden but none has been assigned to any of the three new splits: Western (inornata), Eastern (cantillans) or Moltoni’s (subalpina) Warbler.

Results

Conclusion