Western Orphean Warbler
Curruca hortensis (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (0, 1)
Photo © By Ron Knight - https://www.flickr.com/photos/sussexbirder/8785266546/in/photolist-eojMES, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74841588
STATUS
Western and Central Palearctic. Africa. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
In their 9th Report of Taxonomic Recommendations (Ibis 155: 898-907) the sub-committee of the BOURC (2013) decided that the Eastern and Western Orphean Warblers differed in plumage and vocalisations and the Orphean Warbler be split into these two species.
Due to a feather being retained with the original notes of this 1955 record, a DNA sample was taken and proved this individual to be a Western Orphean. All previous records were rejected.
1950-57 RECORD
1). 1955 Dorset Culverwell, Portland Bill, trapped, 20th September.
(K. B. Rooke, British Birds 49: 180; J. S. Ash, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 3: 91; K. B. Rooke, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 77: 73; Prendergast & Boys, 1983; BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; P. A. Fraser and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 100: 739).
History K. B. Rooke (1956) in British Birds, Vol. XLIX. p. 180, says: 'An Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis) was trapped and ringed at Portland Bill, Dorset, in the evening of 20th September 1955.
It was thoroughly examined in the hand by Dr. J. F. Monk and myself, assisted by S. R. Hatch and Miss U. Wall, and later also seen by A. J. Bull and Alan Till. The following points have been selected from the full description submitted with this note. Strikingly large, Whitethroat-shaped, with stout slate-grey legs and blackish bill. Iris dirty greyish-white. Very dark lores and ear-coverts contrasting with paler grey crown (not brownish) and white throat. Upper-parts other- wise fairly uniform greyish-brown, lacking rufous tinge of White throat (Sylvia communis). Breast whitish, faintly suffused pinkish-buff; flanks brownish-buff, tinged pink; under tail-coverts paler pinkish-buff; belly white. Outer tail-feathers mainly whitish; rest mostly with pale tips, diminishing towards central pair. Wing 78 mm.; weight 21.2 gm.
Shape and general colouration suggestive of a very large Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca); dark "mask" and stout bill gave head an almost shrike-like appearance.
It was not seen in the field except on release, when it showed white outer tail-feathers as it flew away and disappeared into a large bramble-bush.
From iris-colour, it seems probable it was a first winter bird; if so, the grey crown suggests it was a male, though The Handbook states that both sexes in first winter have brownish crowns almost uniform with upper-parts. Alternatively, if it was an adult female, the iris-colour did not agree with "pale yellow to yellowish-white" described in The Handbook.
As in the case of the Whitethroat, it may be that there is an extensive over lap in external characters of age and sex between young males and adult females, making most of them indistinguishable.
This is apparently the fifth or sixth British record of the Orphean Warbler, the first since 1916 and the first in Dorset.'
Admitted nationally as the first for Britain who stated that a DNA sample had been taken and was indicative of nominate hortensis (BOURC (2006) Ibis 149: 194).
