Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
Cercotrichas galactotes (Temminck, 1820) (2, 1)
Photo © Bryan Thomas
STATUS
Eurasia. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known under two groups: western (rufous) form Aedon g. galactotes as the Rufous Warbler, Brown-backed Warbler and Rufous Bush Chat and eastern (grey-brown) form A. g. familiaris as the Grey-backed Warbler.
The long-held first record (1854 Sussex) due to its involvement with Swaysland, who has been discredited (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98; BOURC (2021), Ibis 163: 305-306), is unacceptable.
RECORDS
1). 1859 Devon Near Start Point, shot, 25th September, C. g. galactotes, now at Natural History Museum, Tring.
(G. R. Gray, Annals & Magazine of Natural History 4: 399-400; W. Llewellyn, Ibis 2: 103; Yarrell, 1871-85; Harting, 1875; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892; Witherby, 1920-24; Moore, 1969; BOURC (2021), Ibis 163: 305-306).
History G. R. Gray (1859) in the Annals & Magazine of Natural History, 3rd series, Vol. IV. pp. 399-400, says: 'A second specimen of the Rufous Sedge Warbler (Aedon galactotes) has been killed near Start Point, South Devonshire, on the 25th of September last.
It was shot by William D. Llewellyn, Esq., by whom it was presented to the British Museum. That gentleman observed that its flight much resembled that of a Lark, and that it was exceedingly thin. Its visit was probably occasioned by the strong southerly wind which had prevailed for several days. The former specimen of this rare bird, which Mr. Yarrell, figured in his second Supplement to the History of British Birds, was obtained on the downs near Brighton, in the autumn of 1854.'
In an Editorial (1860) in The Ibis, Vol. II. p. 103, in a Letter, they say: 'Mr. W. Llewellyn, of Penllegare [sic], writes that he shot a specimen of Aedon galactotes (the Rufous Sedge Warbler of Yarrell's Second Supplement) at Start Point, in Devonshire, in the month of September last. A very strong south wind had prevailed for nearly a week previously. The bird was not observed until it was shot, at which moment it was flying over a stone-wall, within an hundred yards of the sea. It was exceedingly thin and had lost its tail. The specimen was sent to the British Museum, where it is now preserved. We find the occurrence of this example has already been noticed in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for November last (ser. 3, Vol. IV. p. 399).'
Alfred Newton (1871-74 (1): 356, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'In November, 1859, the late Mr. G. R. Gray recorded (Ann. and Mag. N. H. ser. 3, IV, p. 399) the occurrence of a second example. This was shot in September, 1859, a very strong south wind having prevailed for nearly a week previously, at the Start in Devonshire, by Mr. W. Llewellyn and given by him to the British Museum. The bird was not observed until it was shot, at which moment it was flying over a stone-wall, within an hundred yards of the sea. It was exceedingly thin and had lost its tail.'
D'Urban & Mathew (1892: 25) say: 'The first was shot near the Start by Mr. W. Dillwyn Llewellyn, of Penllegare [sic], in September, 1859, after a strong wind had been blowing for some time, and was so much injured that it could not be mounted. It had lost its tail and was very thin, and was presented to the British Museum, and is now scarcely to be recognised as a Rufous Warbler.'
Admitted nationally (Witherby 1920 (1): 388) and accepted locally (Moore 1969; Tyler 2010).
2). 1876 Devon Slapton, immature, shot, 12th October, C. g. galactotes.
(H. Nicholls, Zoologist 1876: 5179-80; R. P. Nicholls, Field 28th Oct., 1876: 499; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892; Witherby, 1920-24; Moore, 1969).
History Henry Nicholls of Kingsbridge (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. pp. 5179-80, dated 20th October, 1876, says: 'I wish to record the occurrence near here - at Slapton, and bordering on the sea - of the Rufous Warbler (Aedon galactotes), on the 12th of this month.
As a gentleman and some friends were crossing a turnip-field, a small bird of a very light colour was seen to rise and fly on to the hedge; its peculiar action of flying up perpendicularly and alighting again at the same place, with expanded tail, attracted attention, and it was approached and shot. The bird was sent to my brother, R. P. Nicholls, at whose house I have carefully examined it, and find it to be a male of the above species: it has much the appearance of a bird of the year, the dark band on the tail being very indistinct, and the middle feathers short.
The specimen mentioned in Yarrell as having occurred in 1859 must have been captured but a short distance from the spot where this bird was taken.'
[We have received a second notice of this bird from the Rev. Murray A. Mathew, who saw it at the house of Mr. Nicholls. He confirms the statement that it is an immature specimen, and adds that "in the adult bird a band of black extends across the end of the tail, with a white edging, giving a very handsome appearance. The general colour of the plumage is isabelline, not so clearly rufous as in an old bird". - Ed.]
R. P. Nicholls of Kingsbridge (1876) in The Field of 28th October, Vol. XLVIII. p. 499, says: 'Ornithologists will be interested to hear that I have at present in my possession a young male specimen of the Rufous Warbler (Aedon galactotes), which was shot near Slapton on the 12th October instant, by a gentleman who was out rabbiting. His attention was attracted by its very light colour and singular mode of flight.'
[This little bird, a native of North Africa and Southern Europe, is one of the rarest of the small migrants which visit this country in summer, only two specimens having been hitherto recorded to have been procured here. The first was shot Plumpton Bosthill, near Brighton, in September, 1854; the second at Start Point, Devonshire, in September, 1859. The prevailing colour of the plumage is a sandy red (whence its name), while the tail is conspicuous by having a dark spot towards the end of each feather, which gives it the appearance when spread of being terminated by a dark band, a peculiarity which at once serves to distinguish it from all other warblers. - Ed.]
D'Urban & Matthew (1892: lix) say: 'Mrs. W. Bastard of Oakhill, Slapton, has in the collection formed by her late husband, W. Bastard, a specimen of the Rufous Warbler shot near Slapton.'
Further, p. 25, they add: 'The bird was first noticed in a turnip-field by a gentleman out shooting (Mr. W. Bastard, of Slapton), who was attracted to it both by its colour and its strange antics....We had the pleasure of examining this example shortly afterwards at Mr. Nicholls's house in Kingsbridge. It was in very good condition, and was evidently, from the crescentic markings upon the plumage, a young bird of the year. It is still in the possession of Mrs. Bastard.'
Admitted nationally (Witherby 1920 (1): 388) and accepted locally (Moore 1969; Tyler 2010).
1950-57 RECORD
3). 1951 Kent/Sussex The Wicks, 12th September.
(B. S. Milne, K. H. Palmer & E. J. Pilcher, British Birds 45: 329-330; Shrubb, 1979; James, 1996).
History B. S. Milne, K. H. Palmer & E. J. Pilcher (1952) in British Birds, Vol. XLV. pp. 329-330, say: 'On September 12th, 1951, following a heavy thunderstorm in the morning and southerly winds in the afternoon, B.S.M., whilst walking along the sea wall above the Wicks on the Kent/Sussex border, was surprised to observe a sandy-brown bird about the size of a Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis), with a long chestnut tail, which he was unable to identify. When he had been joined by K.H.P. and E.J.P., the bird was pursued along the sea wall, when very clear and close views were obtained as it appeared to be in an exhausted state. Full plumage details were taken and upon consulting The Handbook, the bird was identified as a Rufous Warbler (Agrobates galactotes). The following observations were taken from combined field notes: -
Upper-parts pale sandy-brown; under-parts, chin and belly whitish; breast pale buff; crown pale sandy-brown; a dark line passed through the eye with a white superciliary stripe; wing-coverts dark brown flecked with paler edges giving a speckled effect; rump and tail bright chestnut. When the tail was spread a black sub-terminal band edged with white was observed, the white being more apparent at the sides of the tail; the general outline of the tail was rounded. Under-tail pure white. Legs light brown bill light grey.
The bird kept to the open and hopped along the shingle. At the end of a hop it drooped its wings slightly and cocked and fanned its tail holding it in a vertical position. This posture it maintained for several seconds at a time and is well shown in plate 34 of British Birds, Vol. XL. The bird was frequently mobbed by Wheatears (Oenanthe oenanthe) and usually made for the cover of Horned Poppy and Sea Kale growing on the sea wall.'
[Field note-books submitted to us by two of the observers contain additional confirmatory data and conclusive sketches of the bird. - Eds.]
NOT PROVEN
0). 1854 Sussex Plumpton Bosthill, near Brighton, male, shot, 16th September, C. g. galactotes.
(W. Borrer, Zoologist 1854: 4511; J. Cavafy, Morris and Bree's Naturalist 5: 164-165; Yarrell, 1856; Yarrell, 1871-85; Borrer, 1891; M. J. Nicholl, British Birds 2: 201-202; BOU, 1915).
[A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98; BOURC (2021), Ibis 163: 305-306].
History William Borrer, jun., of Cowfold, Sussex (1854) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XII. p. 4511, dated October, 1854, says: 'As G. Swaysland, a bird-stuffer, of Cranbourne Street, West Street, Brighton was driving on the South Downs, about six miles from Brighton, near a part of the Downs known as Plumpton Bosthill, he noticed a bird which he at first took for a cream-coloured variety of the Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos.
Having no gun with him, he proceeded about four miles to obtain one, and, returning to the spot, found the bird about twenty yards from where he first observed it. It was very wary, flying always to the further side of some furze bushes, and settling on the side farthest from him, mounting to some fifteen yards. Swaysland describes its flight as resembling that of the young of the Red-backed Shrike. He at last got a shot at about forty yards, and killed it; this was on the 16th September last.
The bird on dissection, proved to be a male, and would shortly have moulted, one or two young feathers of the primaries having made their appearance on each wing; these are darker than the old ones. The feathers also on the back and tail, especially the central ones of the latter, are much worn. I borrowed the bird and sent it to Mr. Yarrell, who kindly sent me the following references, stating also that he was not aware of its having previously occurred in Britain.'
John Cavafy of Westbourne Terrace, London (1855) in Morris and Bree's edition of The Naturalist, Vol. V. pp. 164-165, dated 18th May, 1855, says: 'In The Zoologist, for November, 1854, p. 4511, there is a notice of the occurrence of this bird in Sussex, on the Downs, at Plumpton Bosthill, about six miles from Brighton.
This note is unaccompanied by any description, and as the bird is quite new to the British Fauna, I send you the following, in the hope that it may prove interesting to your ornithological readers, and useful in determining the species, should it again be met with.
Gen. Aedon Boié. - Bill, thrush like; the sides much compressed; tip, bent, entire; gape smooth; nostrils, oval. Tarsus, lengthened; feet, very strong; toes, short, - the inner shorter than the outer; claws, slender. Wings, moderate, - slightly pointed. Tail, ample, rounded, composed of twelve feathers. Sp. Aedon galactotes, Temm. - Male. Irides? Bill brown, - yellowish near the base and edges of the lower mandible; legs and feet, yellowish brown. Above, bright reddish-grey; from the bill to the eye extends a brown band; superciliary stripe, white, slightly reddish; wings, bright brown, - the feathers edged and tipped with reddish; tail-feathers, bright chestnut, each with a large black spot near the end, - the outermost feathers on each side terminated with pure white, the others with reddish white. Beneath, light isabella colour; sides of the neck, breast and flanks, tinged with reddish. Length, 6¼ inches.'
Yarrell (1856, 2nd supp.) figured it from this specimen.
Alfred Newton (1871-74 (1): 356, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, adds: 'It is now in the collection of Mr. Fuller-Maitland.'
M. J. Nicholl (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 201-202, says: 'In Borrer's Birds of Sussex (pp. 63-64), there is an account of the first example of the Rufous Warbler shot in the British Islands. Mr. A. L. Butler has recently called my attention to the fact that the figure of this specimen is undoubtedly drawn from a specimen of Aedon familiaris, the brown central pair of rectrices, which is one of the chief characteristics of this form, being well shown in the plate. Can any of your readers inform me where the original specimen is? I do not recollect seeing it in the Booth Museum. If this example should prove to be referable to Aedon familiaris which I strongly suspect the specimen recorded by Mr. J. B. Nichols in your January number (Vol. I. p. 257) is the second recorded example of this form in the British Islands.'
[Borrer states that the bird was moulting, and that the feathers on the back and tail, "especially the central ones of the latter, are much worn" (Birds of Sussex, p. 64), which may account for the colouring of these feathers. If correctly coloured the bird in the plate appears too dark on the back for A. familiaris. - Eds.]
Admitted nationally in their second List of British Birds as the first for Britain (BOU 1915).
Comment Interesting story with nobody else involved. Swaysland has been discredited (A. H. J. Harrop, British Birds 112: 89-98). Not acceptable.
0). Pre 1866 Orkney No locality, obtained, undated, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
(Howse, 1899).
[BOU, 1971].
History Howse (1899: 53) in his Index-Catalogue of the Birds in the Hancock Collection, says: 'Case 129. No. 1 (right). Received from R. Dunn. Orkney, Jan., 1866.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
0). 1883 Isles of Scilly Tresco, seen, late September to early October.
(J. Clark & F. R. Rodd, Zoologist 1906: 246).
[BOU, 1971; Penhallurick, 1978].
History J. Clark & F. R. Rodd (1906) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. X. p. 246, under 'The Birds of Scilly', say: 'It should be mentioned that David Smith had a conspicuous Warbler under observation for a fortnight during the latter part of September and the beginning of October, 1883, in the reed-bed below the Abbey Road, which he identified as the Rufous Warbler. He was too ill at the time to handle a gun, and the bird was not seen by any other observer.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
Comment Smith was the gamekeeper on Tresco.
0). 1907 Kent Near Hythe, adult male, 15th July.
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 1: 257; Field 14th Mar., 1908; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 21: 63; Ticehurst, 1909; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 4: 310-311).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History J. B. Nichols (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 257, says: 'On July 15th, 1907, a male "Rufous Warbler" was shot at Hythe, Kent, and sent to Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonards, where it was seen in the flesh by Dr. N. F. Ticehurst.
On receiving it from Mr. Bristow I thought it to be Aedon galactotes, but on its being submitted to Dr. R. B. Sharpe and Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, they identified it as the Grey-backed Warbler, Aedon familiaris, a bird which has not previously been obtained in this country. It differs from A. galactotes by the greyish-brown rather than rufous-brown coloration of the upper parts, and by the central pair of tail-feathers being brown instead of chestnut.
In range the Grey-backed Warbler replaces the Rufous Warbler as a breeding species in Asia Minor, Turkey and Greece, and further east. It has, however, wandered to Heligoland, Italy, and the south of France on a few occasions. Aedon galactotes, it may be noted, has only occurred three times in England and once in Ireland, all in the autumn.'
W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1908) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXI. p. 63, at the 139th Meeting of the Club held on 19th February 1908 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. J. B. Nichols exhibited a male example of the Grey-backed Warbler (Aedon familiaris) which had been shot at Hythe, Kent, on the 15th of July, 1907. The species had already been recorded and figured in British Birds [cf. I. 257 (1908)], but had not previously been exhibited.'
Accepted locally (Ticehurst 1909: 52).
H. F. Witherby (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. pp. 310-311, says: '...It will be remembered that Mr. J. B. Nichols recorded and figured in our first volume (p. 257) the first British specimen of a bird identified as the Grey-backed Warbler (A. g. familiaris). This bird was shot at Hythe, Kent, on July 15th, 1907, and Mr. Nichols has very kindly allowed me to examine it and compare it with specimens of A. g. syriacus, kindly lent to me by Dr. Hartert.
I find that this bird also is clearly of this form, and is much browner and darker than specimens of A. g. familiaris from Persia in my collection. The Grey-backed Warbler must thus come off the British list and be replaced by the Brown-backed Warbler (A. g. syriacus) represented by these two specimens.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1909 Sussex St Helen's Park, Hastings, male, 4th June.
(Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History Walpole-Bond (1938 (2): 56) recording the record in square brackets, says: 'Grey-backed Warbler (Agrobates galactotes familiaris) is said by Mr. G. Bristow (in litt.) that a male of this form was shot in St Helen's Park, Hastings, on June 4th, 1909. I have never seen this bird previously recorded in print, though it is possible, of course, that there is some confusion of data with one of the Brown-backed Warblers, to which form, indeed, it may in any case well belong.'
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1910 Sussex Ninfield, adult male, obtained, 13th May, now at Booth Museum, Brighton.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 27: 29; Eds., Field 10th Dec., 1910: 1094; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 4: 310-311; N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 5: 120; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1910) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXVII. p. 29, at the 162nd Meeting of the Club held on 16th November 1910 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'Mr. A. F. Griffith also exhibited an adult male example of the Grey-backed Warbler (Aedon familiaris, Ménétr.), which had been shot at Ninfield, Sussex, on the 13th of May, 1910, by Mr. Morris, and examined in the flesh by Mr. L. C. Edwards. It had been mounted by Mr. Bristow, of St. Leonards, and purchased by the exhibitor, who has presented it to the Booth Museum at Brighton.'
In an Editorial (1910) in The Field of 10th Dec., Vol. CXVI. p. 1094, they state the same details.
H. F. Witherby (1911) in British Birds, Vol. IV. pp. 310-311, says: 'At the meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club held on November 16th, 1910, Mr. A. F. Griffith exhibited a specimen of a Warbler which he identified as the Grey-backed Warbler (Aedon familiaris, Menetr.) The bird was an adult male, and had been shot at Ninfield, Sussex, on May 13th, 1910.
It was examined in the flesh by Mr. L. C. Edwards at the shop of Mr. Bristow, taxidermist, St. Leonards, and had subsequently been purchased by Mr. Griffith and presented by him to the Booth Museum at Brighton (cf. Bull. B.O.C., XXVII, p. 29).
Dr. Hartert has examined this specimen and finds that it is undoubtedly of the race called A. galactotes syriacus (Hempr. and Ehr.), which is distributed from Herzegovina and southern Dalmatia throughout Greece to Asia Minor and northern Syria. A. g. familiaris, which is decidedly greyer and less brown on the upper-parts than A. g. syriacus, has a more eastern range, being found in the south Caucasus, Persia, Mesopotamia, Transcaspia, Turkestan, Afghanistan and Baluchistan.
The Rufous Warbler (A. g. galactotes) is very much more rufous on the upper-parts than either of the forms mentioned above, and is found in Portugal, southern Spain and north-west Africa. A. g. syriacus, the new bird to the British list, may perhaps be called the Brown-backed Warbler. It will be remembered that Mr. J. B. Nichols recorded and figured in our first volume (p. 257) the first British specimen of a bird identified as the Grey-backed Warbler (A. g. familiaris).
This bird was shot at Hythe, Kent, on July 15th, 1907, and Mr. Nichols has very kindly allowed me to examine it and compare it with specimens of A. g. syriacus, kindly lent to me by Dr. Hartert. I find that this bird also is clearly of this form, and is much browner and darker than specimens of A. g. familiaris from Persia in my collection. The Grey-backed Warbler must thus come off the British list and be replaced by the Brown-backed Warbler (A. g. syriacus) represented by these two specimens.'
N. F. Ticehurst (1911) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 120, in a review of Catalogue of Cases of Birds in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton. By E. T. Booth; with further notes by A. F. Griffith', says: 'The most important additions since the publication of the supplement, appear to be the...Besides these, certain important corrections must be noted: - The Rufous Warbler, shot at Ninfield, May 18th, 1910, is also now catalogued under its correct name (cf. Vol. IV. p. 310).'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (2): 56).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1913 Sussex Brede, adult male, shot, 20th September.
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 7: 172; E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 99; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1913) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 172, says: 'On September 21st, 1913. I was shown a small bird that had been shot the previous day at Brede, Sussex, and came to the conclusion that it was a worn example of an adult Rufous Warbler. It proved, upon dissection, to be a male. As this is a rather difficult bird to identify without any skins for comparison, I forwarded the specimen as soon as it was set up to Mr. Witherby to compare and confirm.'
[I have carefully compared the specimen referred to, and it is clearly an example of the typical form of the Rufous Warbler (Agrobates g. galactotes). - H.F.W.]
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (2): 55).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1915 Hertfordshire West Mill, near Hitchin, seen, 11th February.
(W. P. Westell, British Birds 10: 48).
[W. Percival Westell, British Birds 10: 48; Not in Witherby et al., 1940-52; Sage, 1959; BOU, 1971].
History W. Percival Westell (1916) in British Birds, Vol. X. p. 48, in a Letter under 'Supposed Rufous Warbler in Hertfordshire', says: 'Sirs, - On February 11th, 1915, I flushed a strange bird by the River Ought at West Mill, near Hitchin.
Its rufous colour, spread-eagled tail, and prominent white edges to same, puzzled me. The species remained in doubt until the publication of Mr. Thorburn's first volume of British Birds. On looking casually at his coloured plates, my eye suddenly fell upon his remarkable illustration of this species, and through the kindness of Dr. Hartert I have also before me two specimens of Agrobates galactotes galactotes from Algeria.
I have no hesitation in pronouncing the bird I saw as belonging to this species, as I watched it for several minutes and as it flew and alighted I had a splendid view of it through my glass, and was particularly struck with the features above recorded.'
Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971).
Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.
0). 1915 Sussex Westfield, male, shot, 7th May, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.704).
(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 9: 155; W. Ruskin Butterfield, Hastings & East Sussex Naturalist 2: 198; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].
History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1915) in British Birds, Vol. IX. p. 155, says: 'An example of the Brown-backed Warbler (Agrobates g. syriacus) was shot at Westfield, Sussex, on May 7th, 1915.
I examined it in the flesh the same day and found it to be a male.' [By request of Mr. Ford-Lindsay and Mr. J. B. Nichols, in whose collection the bird is, I examined and compared this bird and found it to be of the form above stated. The differences of the three forms of Agrobates galactotes are stated in Vol. IV. p. 310. - H.F.W.]
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (2): 56).
Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male specimen that was obtained at Westfield, Sussex, on 7th May 1915, adding that they were bought at the sale of J. B. Nichols's collection.
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
0). 1918 Sussex St Leonards-on-Sea, male, shot, 8th June.
(J. B. Nichols, British Birds 12: 160; Walpole-Bond, 1938).
[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR.
History J. B. Nichols (1918) in British Birds, Vol. XII. p. 160, says: 'Early in July I received a male Brown-backed Warbler (Agrobates g. syriacus), which was shot at West St. Leonards on June 8th, 1918. It was examined in the flesh by Mr. W. Ruskin Butterfield.
Another male of this race from Hythe, Kent, the first record for the British Isles, is also in my possession, and was recorded by me in British Birds, I, p. 257, under the name of Aedon familiaris. Mr. H. F. Witherby subsequently showed that this and another male obtained at Ninfield, Sussex, on May 13th, 1910, now in the Booth Museum at Brighton, really belonged to the Brown-backed rather than the Grey-backed race of this species (cf. Brit. Birds, IV. p. 310). I have also a male in my collection which was shot at Westfield, Sussex, on May 7th, 1915, as recorded in Brit. Birds, IX. p. 155, so that this form has occurred four times in England in May, June and July, while all five recorded specimens of the Rufous Warbler (Agrobates g. galactotes) were obtained in September or October.'
Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (2): 56).
Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.
