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Phylloscopus collybita

Chiffchaff

Habitus (CC BY-SA 2.5) Andreas Trepte

Short Description

The chiffchaff is a small compact bird with a rather inconspicuous grey-brown to grey-green plumage; its legs are dark-brown to black. Throat and underparts are a dirty white. Its most distinctive feature is its song, a constant repetition of its name “chif-chaff”.

Features

Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

  • repeated “chiff-chaff” song

Männchen: Gesang

Conrads, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Similar species

Willow warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus
The willow warbler has a more slender body, longer wings and paler legs. The best way to distinguish between the two species is by their song.

Wood warbler

Phylloscopus sibillatrix
The wood warbler has a whitish chest and underparts and a yellow-green plumage. Its song is also very distinctive and different.
Habitus (CC BY-SA 3.0) R. Altenkamp

In the city

In an urban environment, chiffchaffs can be seen in larger gardens, parks and cemeteries. Some chiffchaffs remain in town over winter and avoid the strenuous journey south.

Fun Facts

  • From March to July, chiffchaffs start to sing approx. 35 minutes before sunrise.

  • Its German name is also onomatopoeic (imitates its bird call). However, they call it “Zilpzalp”.

  • In winter, most chiffchaffs leave their breeding territory and fly to warmer Mediterranean countries from October to February (visitant).

  • Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
Habitus (CC BY-SA 3.0) Ken Billington

Sources

Habitus , Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chiffchaff_-_Phylloscopus_collybita.jpg

Habitus , R. Altenkamp, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phylloscopus_collybita_090907.jpg

Habitus , Ken Billington, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chiffchaff_(Phylloscopus_collybita)_(10).jpg

Bejcek, V. (1988) Zugvögel, Hanau/Main: Verlag Werner Dausien.

Witt, K. & Steiof, K. (2013) Rote Liste und Liste der Brutvögel von Berlin, 3. version, 15.11.2013. : Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. (eds.) Berliner Ornithologischer Bericht, volume 23, Berlin: Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V., 1-23.

Page „Zilpzalp“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 22.07.2015, 14:50 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zilpzalp&oldid=144272156 (Accessed: 18.02.2016).

NABU – Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (2016) Vogeluhr, URL: https://www.nabu.de/nabu_vogeluhr2/index.php?iframed=1 (Accessed: 10.02.2021).