Cetti's Warbler

Cettia cetti (Temminck, 1820)

2014-08-21 VKO	© Viktor Kolesnikov

Description

The Cetti's Warbler is less than Sparrow. The upperparts are olive-brown; underparts are brownish, abdomen is dirty-white. It resembles Reed Warblers by the image and behavior, but has more heavy constitution and the broad rounded tail which often is cocked. It is distinguished from the Nightingale by the broad tail and expressed but not bright supercilium. The bill is rosy-brownish, the base of lower mandible is yellow. Both sexes are similar. The autumn fresh plumage is same but upperparts are brighter, more buffy; underparts are greyer. Juveniles are similar on adults but the first plumage is softer with slightly expressed light mottles on upperparts; the flanks of the upper mandible are yellow (on adults upper mandible is all dark). The wings form: first primary is broad and long, longer than coverts more than 10 mm; the 4th and 5th primaries are longest of all. Weigh 11-19 grams, length about 14, wing 5,9-6,9, wingspan 15-19 mm.

Distribution

The distribution of Cetti's Warbler is irregular. In Kazakhstan it breeds in north-west and south-east parts of Republic. The detailed distribution in Kazakhstan please see in the chapter "Subspecies".

Biology

The Cetti's Warbler is common, in places rare breeding migrant. It inhabits the bush thickets on shores of steppe rivers, lakes and ponds; riparian forests; reed beds with shrubs; on plains and in foothills up to 750 m. On migration it occurs in same places, and very rare in forest-belts. It arrives early, in March – early April. Birds all the time keep in the dense bushes and reeds; more often it is possible to see only the dark bird has flashed in thickets. It is very mobile. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is built in the bush or on the ground in dense thickets; from the grass, leaves, rootlets and is lined with thin grass and rare with some hair and feathers. Most often the bulky cup-shaped nest is unavailable. The nest is not attached to branches and stalks, but only leans to them. Clutches of 4-5 eggs is in May – early June. The eggs are rusty-reddish. A brood of fledglings observed in mid-June. The nestlings leave the nest not being able to fly, but well climbing onto the branches and the vertical stalks of grasses. Male stops to sing in end July – mid-August. Autumn migration is late, latest birds recorded in late November.

Subspecies

Cettia cetti orientalis (Tristram, 1867) Description. The upper parts and grey flanks are darker than on albiventris. The crown is rusty-brown, more dark; the grey tinge on the neck flanks is less than on albiventris. Distribution. Breeds from the valley of middle current of Ural; eastward to Naurzum Reserve, Astana and Nura river valley at Rozhdestvenka settlement; in the north to Malyy Aksuat lake; in the south to lower Irgiz river and Taldy-Manak river (inflow of Sarysu). On migration occurs to south.

Cettia cetti albiventris (Severtzov, 1873) Description. The upper parts and grey flanks are lighter than on orientalis. The crown is greyish-brown, more light; the grey tinge on the neck flanks is more expressed than on orientalis. Distribution. Breeds and occurs on migration in the south half of Kazakhstan from the mouth of Syrdarya river up to Zaysan depression, in north up to Telekol lakes, Chu valley, Ust-Kamenogorsk area and foothills of Southern Altai. In 2001 the male songs recorded in eastern part of Kazakh upland, near Zharma village; on western part of Kalbinskiy Altai; and in upper course of Bukhtarma river. In winter the quiet songs were heard on Chushkakol lake (3 February 2004) and at Karachengel (10 February 2004).

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург, Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.