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Birds

Birds

Common name Iberian chiffchaff
Scientific name Phylloscopus ibericus
Type Forest birds
Status Summer

Small bird (about 11 cm or 4.5 in) with greenish tones on the back and whitish and yellowish ones on the underparts. Short, thin bill; dark legs. On the head it has a yellowish eyebrow and below it a darker line (lore) that goes from the base of the bill to the eye.

Habitats

Woodland environments

Where it lives

Woodland species linked to mountain forests, shady areas, groves and riverbanks. It is present in mature formations of holm, cork and Portuguese oaks, as well as in Spanish fir forests.

How it lives

Summer species in the province and also present during its migratory passages. Long-distance migrator, the Iberian Chiffchaff spends the winter south of the Sahara. Two annual layings of 3 to 7 eggs. Nest in shrubs and bushes at low altitude. Insectivore that catches small insects in flight. During the autumn and the migratory passage it also consumes small fruits and nectar of flowers.

Where it can be seen in Malaga

Species frequent especially in the western half of the province. It avoids too open areas or those without trees, as well as young forests. For this reason it is more abundant in areas such as the Genal valley, the Guadaiza river valley, the "pinsapar" (Spanish fir forest) of the Sierra de las Nieves, as well as in the cork oak forests of Cortes de la Frontera. In the Great Path it can be watched in stages 27 and 31.

Curious facts

The Iberian Chiffchaff is the subject of intense studies. Even its identification in hand is really difficult. It has recently been separated as a species from the Common Chiffchaff, with which it shows genetic and phenological differences (the Common Chiffchaff is a wintering bird in Malaga), but a great morphological similarity.

Present
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Wintering Summer Resident Migration
Audios