Rüppell's Warbler

Rüppell's Warbler , Sylvia rueppelli, is an Old World warbler in the typical warbler genus Sylvia. It breeds in Greece, Turkey and neighbouring islands. It is migratory, wintering in north east Africa. This is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

These small passerine birds are found in thick thorny shrubs. 4-6 eggs are laid in a nest in a bush. Like most warblers, this species is insectivorous.

These are small warblers, similar in size but slimmer than Sardinian Warbler. The adults have a plain grey back and paler grey underparts. The bill is fine and pointed and the legs brown. The male has a black head and, usually, a black throat, separated by a white moustache line. The eye is red.

Females have a pale throat, and the head is grey rather than black. Their grey back has a brownish tinge. The song is a slower, deeper rattle than that of Sardinian Warbler.

This bird is named after the German collector Eduard Rüppell.