I had a 24-hour layover in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) 5-6 January 2019 and decided to head to Arippa, 65 km with car north-northeast of downtown Trivandrum. A nice walk was had, the results can be seen here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S51337179
I photographed 3 species of Phylloscoups, one which seems straight-forward, and two that I would like to get some input on. Apparently, 6 species winter here regularly, and listed here in what I feel is in order of greatest likelihood looking at eBird:
Green Warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus Seems abundant in the whole w and sw India. Greenish Warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides viridanus
Seems abundant in the whole w and sw India.
Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus magnirostris
Seems common in w and sw India.
Western Crowned Warbler, Phylloscopus occipitalis
Seems fairly common in w and sw India.
Tickell's Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus affinis
Seems scarce in the Trivandrum area, more common further north
Tytler's Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus tytleri
Seems scarce in the Trivandrum area
This is the first species. Seemingly good for Green Warbler, Phylloscopus nitidus
Agree with Green.
Me too.
This is the second species. Faint or no wing-bar. Not sure yet what this can be:
I'd go for Large-billed. Bill is heavy and bulbous with slight hook and dark smudge on lower mandible similar to Arctic. Greyish underparts, dull green upperparts, grey legs.
Large-billed for me too
@Mark Smiles & Andrew, thanks guys: a lifer!
The third bird, a little cutie with a nice yellow throat and a distinct wing-bar. Two close-ups at the end. Another Green Warbler?
I was going to comment on this but got sidetracked. Anyway, agree with Mark.
Yeah, another Green.
Thanks guys, this is much appreciated. Great fun, in that forest.
The Starlings are blythii, aren't they? Isn't that a full species according to IOC and Clements?
I tried desperately to make then blythii, but failed, due head colour.
And I was hoping to hear from you, Andrew, once you had a look at the checklist. Always a pleasure :-) Can you see photos/species of 'Rare' and flagged birds? Like:
Greater Coucal (Southern) - photo not showing in Macaulay, flagged as Unconfirmed
Greater Flameback (Malabar) - ditto
Ashy Drongo (Blackish) - ditto
Tickell's Blue Flycatcher (Tickell's) - ditto
@Tommy Pedersen Yes, I can see those images. The Flameback images are great.
@Tommy Pedersen I can post those Starlings on the Ask ID of Indian Birds FB page if you like.
By the way, I really like the ease of use of uploading images to this new Forum :-)