Western Olivaceous Warbler
Iduna opaca (Cabanis, 1850) (0, 1)
Photo © J-L Irvine - Skibberhoull, Whalsay, Shetland, 21 October 2023
STATUS
Southwest Europe and Northwest Africa. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
The first for Britain and the third for the Western Palearctic after Sweden and Germany.
Uniform brownish coloration of upperparts, pale lores, sides of bill marginally convex and a markedly round tail with a lack of tail-dipping are points to look for in identification. In this trapped individual the tail length, tarsus length and bill width were beyond the range of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler.
BBRC RECORD
1). 2023 Shetland Skibberhoull, Whalsay, 1CY, trapped, 20th to 21st October, DNA analysis, photo.
(British Birds 116: plate 418; J-L. Irvine, Scottish Birds 44: 185-187, plates 145-149; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 711, plate 483; BOURC (2025), Ibis 167: 316'; J-L Irvine, British Birds 119: 86-91, plates 57-60).
