The Canary Islands chiffchaff (''Phylloscopus canariensis'') is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
leaf warbler
Leaf warblers are small insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus ''Phylloscopus''.
Leaf warblers were formerly included in the Old World warbler family but are now considered to belong to the family Phylloscopidae, introduced in 20 ...
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to the
Canary Islands,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. Sometimes the English name is spelled Canary Island chiffchaff.
Taxonomy
Previously the Canary Island chiffchaff was considered as a
subspecies of the
common chiffchaff (''Phylloscopus collybita''). Now it is recognised as a separate
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
under the name ''Phylloscopus canariensis''.
Subspecies
There are two recognised subspecies but the Lanzarote subspecies is probably extinct; they are:
*
Western Canary Islands chiffchaff
The western Canary Islands chiffchaff (''Phylloscopus canariensis canariensis'') is a small bird in the family Phylloscopidae. It is a subspecies of the Canary Islands chiffchaff found on the islands of El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife ...
(''Phylloscopus canariensis canariensis''): western Canary Islands:
El Hierro
El Hierro, nicknamed ''Isla del Meridiano'' (the "Meridian Island"), is the second-smallest and farthest-south and -west of the Canary Islands (an autonomous community of Spain), in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, with a populatio ...
,
La Palma
La Palma (, ), also known as ''La isla bonita'' () and officially San Miguel de La Palma, is the most north-westerly island of the Canary Islands, Spain. La Palma has an area of making it the fifth largest of the eight main Canary Islands. The ...
,
La Gomera
La Gomera () is one of Spain's Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. With an area of , it is the third smallest of the eight main islands of this archipelago. It belongs to the province of Santa Cruz de Tene ...
,
Tenerife
Tenerife (; ; formerly spelled ''Teneriffe'') is the largest and most populous island of the Canary Islands. It is home to 43% of the total population of the archipelago. With a land area of and a population of 978,100 inhabitants as of Janu ...
, and
Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria (, ; ), also Grand Canary Island, is the third-largest and second-most-populous island of the Canary Islands, an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa which is part of Spain. the island had a population of that ...
* †
Eastern Canary Islands chiffchaff
The eastern Canary Islands chiffchaff or Lanzarote Island chiffchaff (''Phylloscopus canariensis exsul'') is an extinct subspecies of the Canary Islands chiffchaff endemic to the island of Lanzarote – and possibly also Fuerteventura – in ...
(''Phylloscopus canariensis exsul''): eastern Canary Islands:
Lanzarote and possibly
Fuerteventura.
Description
The Canary Islands chiffchaff is similar to the
common chiffchaff and the
Iberian chiffchaff but compared to the common chiffchaff it has a longer bill, shorter wings and a longer tail. Its underparts have a brownish-buff tone, especially on the flanks and breast, and the upperparts are darker brown than the common chiffchaff.
Voice
Many calls are similar to the common chiffchaff but the song lacks the metronomic quality of that species and is harsher, shorter and more varied and with a faster delivery.
[
]
Habitat
The Canary Islands chiffchaff occurs in most habitats from coastal gardens to high altitude vegetation but is absent from semi-desert scrub at lower altitudes.[
]
Habits
In the breeding period, January to June, the Canary Islands chiffchaff is territorial and is found singly or in pairs, the nest is a spherical structure with a side entrance and is placed near the ground in coastal scrub but higher (8m plus) up in the laurisilva
Laurel forest, also called laurisilva or laurissilva, is a type of Subtropics, subtropical forest found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable, mild temperatures. The forest is characterized by broadleaf tree species with evergreen, glo ...
. The clutch is 2-5 eggs and most pairs are triple brooded. When not breeding in the autumn and winter they are more sociable, forming small flocks. The post-breeding moult is usually completed by late July. The Canary Islands chiffchaff spends much of its time foraging for its insect food among foliage from ground level up to the tree canopy, although it will also sometimes hover, glean and fly catch. It is an active little bird with quick and frenzied movements, frequently flicking its wings and wagging or flicking its tail.
References
External links
Recordings of the Canary Islands chiffchaff at Xeno-Canto
{{Taxonbar, from=Q608804
Phylloscopus
Birds of the Canary Islands
Endemic fauna of the Canary Islands
Birds described in 1886