Iberian Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus ibericus

Introduction

Only recently separated from Common Chiffchaff (on the basis of DNA and its distinctive song) this is a rare spring visitor to southern Britain.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.8k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

London, 1972

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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This species was split from Common Chiffchaff in 1999 (BOU 1999) and singing males have been reported in very small numbers in recent years (Eaton et al. 2021), with breeding confirmed in 2015 (Hunter 2016). The species may possibly be in the early stages of colonising the UK.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

0.2%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Iberian Chiffchaff

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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Iberian Chiffchaff is a spring vagrant.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Iberian Chiffchaff movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Iberian Chiffchaff, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Iberian Chiffchaff

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Phylloscopidae
Scientific name: Phylloscopus ibericus
Authority: Ticehurst, 1937

BTO 2-letter code: IR
BTO 5-letter code: IBECH
Euring code number: 13115

Alternate species names

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Catalan: mosquiter ibèric
Czech: budnícek iberský
Danish: Iberisk Gransanger
Dutch: Iberische Tjiftjaf
Estonian: ibeeria väike-lehelind
Finnish: iberiantiltaltti
French: Pouillot ibérique

German: Iberienzilpzalp
Hungarian: ibériai füzike
Icelandic: Grenisöngavri
Italian: Luì piccolo iberico
Latvian: Iberijas cuncinš
Lithuanian: iberine pecialinda
Norwegian: Iberiagransanger

Polish: swistunka iberyjska
Portuguese: felosinha-ibérica
Slovak: kolibiarik iberský
Slovenian: iberska listnica
Spanish: Mosquitero ibérico
Swedish: iberisk gransångare
Welsh: Siff-siaff Iberia

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Iberian Chiffchaff from BTO scientists.

Causes of Change and Solutions

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Causes of change

As this species has only recently been recognised it is unclear whether its status in the UK has changed. It is possible that records will become more frequent in the future as a result of climate change.

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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