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Phylloscopus
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- Hainan Leaf Warbler
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Hainan Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus hainanus Scientific name definitions

Per Alström
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2006

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

c. 11 cm. A rather small, “ordinarily” built leaf-warbler with prominently yellow head stripes, wingbars and underparts. Median crownstripe is pale yellow, extending to bill; lateral crownstripe bright greyish-green, a little darker at rear than towards front, and slightly darker than upperparts; prominent supercilium rather deep warm yellow, distinct eyestripe greyish-green (same colour as lateral crownstripe); ear-coverts rather deep warm yellow with brownish tinge; upperparts bright green, marginally paler and more yellowish on rump; upperwing brown-grey with bright green outer edges; median upperwing-coverts with pale yellowish tips (forming rather distinct bar), greater coverts with rather broad pale yellow tips (prominent wingbar); rectrices brown-grey with bright green edges, except for two outermost pairs, which are all white on inner webs; entire underside rather deep warm yellow; iris dark brown; upper mandible blackish, lower mandible pale orange; legs pale pinkish-grey. Distinguished from all congeners by combination of not very dark lateral crownstripes, uniformly distinct median crownstripe, bright yellow supercilium and underparts, distinct yellowish wingbars, and extensively white outer rectrices. Sexes similar in plumage, female on average smaller than male. Juvenile undescribed.

Systematics History

Recent phylogenetic study (1) indicates that this species is genetically very close to P. ogilviegranti, although plumages clearly different. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

Hainan, in S China.

Habitat

Mainly secondary broadleaf forest at edges of mature tropical forest; much less common in primary forest. Above 640 m, to 1500 m.

Movement

No information. Probably resident.

Diet and Foraging

Known to eat insects, but no studies undertaken. Singly and in pairs, but has been recorded in flocks of up to 30; also joins mixed-species flocks. Forages in trees, usually in canopy.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song consists of short strophes of high-pitched varied notes, strophes separated by pauses usually several seconds long, e.g. “tsitsitsui-tsitsitsui… titsu-titsui-titsui… titsu-titsui-titsui… titsu-titsui-titsui… tist tsitsui-tsitsui-tsi… pitsu-pitsi-tsu… pitsu-pitsi-tsu…”. Calls with high-pitched “pitsitsui”, “pitsiu”, pitsi-pitsu” or similar. Both song and call very like those of P. intensior.

Breeding

Little known. One nest with nearly fully grown young and several pairs with fledged young observed in late Apr; season appears to be over in late May, as no signs of breeding activity observed at that time. Only one nest found, dome-shaped, with side entrance, built from slender stalks, broad grass leaves and a few thin roots and degraded remains of leaves, lined with dense pappus fibres, thin bast from tree-ferns and some pale brown and yellow feathers; sited on face of a steep roadside bank, c. 170 cm above road. No other information.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife VU Vulnerable

VULNERABLE. Restricted-range species: present in Hainan EBA. Locally common on Hainan, where it occurs in S part of the island. Recorded at only a small number of sites (seven), most of which are protected as reserves. Considered threatened because of its highly restricted distribution and the adverse effects of deforestation.

Distribution of the Hainan Leaf Warbler - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
  • Breeding
  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Hainan Leaf Warbler

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Alström, P. (2020). Hainan Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus hainanus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.halwar1.01
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