Plain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus neglectus Scientific name definitions

9–10 cm; 4·2–7 g. Small, short-tailed leaf-warbler, only slightly larger than Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), with plain or inconspicuous appearance. Has short and rather inconspicuous pale buffish-cream supercilium (creamy white when plumage fresh) fading over ear-coverts, narrow dark eyestripe, narrow white eyering or lower eye-crescent, pale buffish-brown ear-coverts; crown and upperparts almost entirely grey-brown, rump slightly paler grey; wing and tail feathers slightly darker, with paler edges (forming wingpanel in fresh plumage); dull whitish below , washed with buff-brown on side of breast and flanks; underwing-coverts whitish (loose feathers often show at bend of wing); iris dark brown; bill dark brown, paler horn-brown base of lower mandible; legs dark grey or blackish. Differs from P. sindianus in smaller size, slightly greyer plumage tone (also generally lacks warm buff-brown on cheek, breast side and flanks), shorter tail; from P. collybita in shorter tail, and absence of green or yellowish on upperparts, including at bend of wing. Sexes alike. Juvenile has slightly brighter brown upperparts than adult, supercilium whitish-yellow and flanks yellowish.

Mountains of Iran, S Turkmenistan, E Uzbekistan, W Tajikistan, N & SE Afghanistan and W Pakistan (Baluchistan), recorded once in SE Turkey (1 Gottschling, M., Pfützke, S. and Weiß, F. (2015). Plain Leaf Warblers near Van Gölü, Turkey, in June 2004. Dutch Birding 37(2): 107–109. Close ); non-breeding coastal Iran, C & S Pakistan, NW India, United Arab Emirates and N Oman.

Food mostly small insects and larvae. Forages usually alone in winter, but often in pairs in summer. Active and agile in upper foliage of trees, in bushes and in low vegetation. Takes most items from leaves or among foliage, and may cling upside-down on thin stems; also makes dashing flights after passing insects. Flicks wings frequently, but does not dip tail in manner of P. collybita.

Song  , often given also throughout non-breeding season, a soft twittering warble comprising varying phrases, some of which softer than others, including “zilitzwit”, “twissa twissa”, “chit-chuwich-chissa” and “pt-toodle-toodla”, and frequently repeated. Call a distinctive sharp “chit”, occasionally given as “chick”, “chip”, “cheet” or “tchoit”, often uttered in flight; also harsh, low-pitched short “churr” or “trrr trrr”, similar to that of Sylvia curruca.

Not globally threatened. Common to locally common in breeding season from Iran E to Baluchistan. Status in Turkey unclear, several records (one documented by description and sound-recording) in summers of 2004–2006 in SE of country, near Iranian border, where the species was apparently breeding, but not since (2 Gottschling, M., Pfützke, S. and Weiß, F. (2015). Plain Leaf Warblers near Van Gölü, Turkey, in June 256564. Dutch Birding. 37(2): 107–109. Close ). Fairly common in non-breeding season in Pakistan (Sind and NW Punjab); scarce in winter in United Arab Emirates and N Oman.