歌篱莺种

描述

歌篱莺是一种中等大小的莺类，体长约12至13厘米（4.7至5.1英寸）。成鸟的背部和翅膀为单一的棕色，下体呈黄绿色。与其东面对应种——绿篱莺（Hippolais icterina）相比，歌篱莺的上体颜色较为棕褐色，而下体则更偏黄色。其喙强壮且尖锐，腿部呈棕色。雄雌鸟外观相似，但幼鸟腹部颜色较淡。其鸣声悦耳且持久，但变化不大，也不包括模仿的声音。其他叫声包括类似于麻雀的颤音“trrrr”、轻声的“tuk”和喋喋不休的“chret-chet”。

分布与栖息地

歌篱莺是一种候鸟，主要在西欧和北非繁殖，冬季则迁徙至撒哈拉以南的西非地区。其繁殖范围从伊比利亚半岛向东延伸至德国和意大利。在北非，它们在西撒哈拉、毛里塔尼亚、阿尔及利亚、摩洛哥和突尼斯繁殖。其典型栖息地包括灌木林地、森林边缘、灌木丛、河岸植被、果园和花园。

生态

如同大多数莺类，歌篱莺主要以昆虫为食，但也会摄取其他小型食物，如浆果。它们在树或灌木中筑巢，巢由细草、茎、柔软的树枝、树皮薄片和地衣构成，每窝产下三至五枚卵。

语源学

属名Hippolais来自古希腊语hupolais，是林奈拼错的词，指的是亚里士多德等人提到的一种小鸟，可能是拟声词或来自hupo（下）和laas（石）。种名polyglotta来自古希腊语polus（多）和glossa（舌），意为“和谐的”。

The melodious warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus Hippolais. It breeds in southwest Europe and northwest Africa. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. This small passerine bird is a species found in open woodland with bushes. Three to five eggs are laid in a nest in a tree or a bush. This is a common bird in many parts of its wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Etymology

The genus name Hippolais is from Ancient Greek hupolais, as misspelt by Linnaeus. It referred to a small bird mentioned by Aristotle and others and may be onomatopoeic or derived from hupo,"under", and laas, "stone". The specific polyglotta is from Ancient Greek polus, "many", and glossa, "tongue" and means "harmonious".

Description

This is a medium-sized warbler, 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in) in length, and similar to its eastern counterpart, the icterine warbler (Hippolais icterina). The adult has a plain brown back and wings, and yellowish underparts. Compared to the icterine warbler, the upper parts are rather browner and the under parts rather yellower. The bill is strong and pointed and the legs are brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are paler on the belly. The song is a pleasant babbling. Compared to that of the icterine it is more fluent and sustained but much less varied, and it does not include mimicked sounds. Other vocalisations include a rattling "trrrr", which resembles a house sparrow, a quiet "tuk" and a chattering "chret-chet".

Distribution and habitat

The melodious warbler is a migratory species. It breeds in Western Europe and North Africa, and overwinters in West Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The breeding range extends from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards to Germany and Italy. In northern Africa it breeds in Western Sahara, Mauritania, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Its typical habitats include bushy woodland, forest edges, thickets, riverside vegetation, orchards and gardens.

Ecology

Like most warblers, it is mainly insectivorous, but will take other small food items, including berries. Three to five eggs are laid in a nest composed of fine grasses, stems, soft twigs, flakes of bark and lichen.