TURKEY - a report from a birdwatching trip to Central ... - Netfugl.dk

Resemble Sardinian Warbler S. melanocephala momus (southern Levant), but the duller blackish
cap merges diffusely into mantle (which often has a sandy undertone). In momus, the blacker cap is
sharply divided from the grey mantle and the tail is paler. Also, the edges to tertials are broader and
diffuser than the sharper and narrower whitish in momus (partly based on Shirihai et al. 2001). Song
resembles other Sylvia-warblers, especially Subalpine Warbler, but is slightly richer with series of
hard notes. The call is a dry rattle.
Menetries´s Warbler ssp. rubescens breeds in SE Turkey from Gaziantep and eastwards towards
Lake Van, but might only be regular in the driest hottest areas, with Birezik being the classical site
for the species. Occurs in dry, arid to semi-arid lowland with scattered bushes, scrubs and tamarisk
stands, mainly in wadis and often near water, but also in open plantations. The vicinity to River
Euphrates might explain the dense population of the Birezik Area.
Ssp. mystacea (the darkest and richest coloured ssp.) occurs rarely in central Eastern Turkey north
of LakeVan in similar habit, but noted up to 1700 m.
Total Turkish population 1000-10.000 pairs (Shirihai et al. 2001).
218. Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala Sorthovedet Sanger
2006: 14.5 1 female Göksu Delta.
Breeds in areas close to the Mediterranean eastawrds to Gaziantep, in same kind of habits as
Rüppell´s Warbler. Clearly outnumbered by this species in the visited area.
219. Rüppell´s Warbler Sylvia rueppellii Sortstrubet Sanger
2005: 23.5 1 female Demirzili - 23.5 4 males Imamli.
2006: 15.5 5 Demircili – 15.5 5 Imamli – 15.5 1 Imamli – Mut.
2007: 15.5 5 Demirzili – 15.5 5 Imamli.
Found in dry, hilly areas with dense maquis and scattered lower trees used for song-posts. The song
is typical for the family (especially resembling Sardinian Warbler) -a musical, chattering warble
with dry notes intermixed with quick series of clearer notes.
Distributed throughout Western and Southern Turkey eastwards onto Gaziantep region Population
estimated to between 5000 and 50.000 pairs (Shirihai et al. 2001).
220. Graceful Warbler Prinia gracialis Yndefuld Sanger
2005: 13.5 4 Akgol, Göksu Delta - 21.5 6 along Euphrates south of Birezik - 21.5 1 gravel pits
north of Birezik - 23.5 6 Göksu Delta - 24,5 4 Tuzla Creek.
2006: 14.5 30 Göksu Delta – 24.5 1 Birezik – 25.5 6 Birezik (south of the bridge) – 25.5 7 Birezik
(north of the bridge, along western shores of River Euphrates).
2007: 14.5 15 Akgöl, Göksu Delta – 15.5 20 Göksu Delta – 24.5 15 Gravel pits, Birezik – 26.5 2
Tuzla Gölü S of Adana.
Patchlily distributed in lowlands of S Turkey. Found in dry areas with low scrubs near water. The
song is an insect-like rattling, constantly repeated from top of low scrub.
221. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Cistussanger
2005: 23.5 2 Göksu Delta.
In Central Turkey, mainly restricted to the delta areas of Göksu, Ceyhan/Tarsus, where found in
open, grassy areas with scattered bushes.
222. Savi´s Warbler Locustella luscinoides Savisanger
2007: 14.5 3 singing Akgöl, Göksu Delta.