English Name : Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler
Scientific Name : Phylloscopus inornatus
Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus was first described by Blyth in 1842 based on the specimen collected near
Calcutta, but the type was lost (Mayr and Cottrell 1986).
The taxonomy has been confused. Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Howard and Moore(1984),
and Clements(2000) was recognised three subspecies in this species; P. i. inornatus, humei, and mandellii. Sibley and Monroe(1990) was also treated that they ware not separate
species. Monroe and Sibley(1993) suggested that inornatus and humei. was treated in possible species status. Dickinson(2003) treated that
Yellow-browed Warbler P. inornatus and Hume's Leaf Warbler P. humei was separate species, and subspecies humei and manlellii was included in Hume's Leaf Warbler. Recently, Yellow-browed Warbler and
Hume's Leaf Warbler are usually treated as separate species.
In Japan, Check-List of Japanese Birds(Committee for Check-List of Japanese
Birds 2000) is not declare that the taxonomic status of these taxa. However,
it is no doubt that Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler and Hume's Leaf Warbler
was treated as same species in this publication, since the description
of the distribution of Yellow-browed Warbler.
There is no official record of Hume's Leaf Warbler in Japan, but Maki and
Oonishi(2000) described that the record of Hume's Leaf Warbler in Japan.
Therefore, in the future Hume's Leaf Warbler will be recorded officially
in Japan.
References:
Clements J. F. 2000. Birds of the World:A Checklist, 5th edition. Ibis Publishing Company, CA.
Committee for Check-List of Japanese Birds (2000) Check-List of Japanese
Birds. Sixth Revised Edition. The Ornithological Society of Japan, Obihiro.
Dickinson, C. (ed.) 2003. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, 3rd
edition. Christopher Helm, London.
Maki, H. & Oonishi, T. 2000. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Japan. Nihon no Yacyo 590. Heibonsha, Tokyo(in Japanese).
Mayr, R. & Cottrell, G. W. (eds.) 1986. Check-list of the Birds of the World. Vol.XI. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambrirdge.
Monroe, B. L., Jr. & Sibley C. G. 1993. A World Checklist of Birds. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven and London.
Sibley C. G. & Monroe, B. L., Jr. 1990. Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press, New Haven & London.
 |
1. 13 Oct. 1998 Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref. In Autumn, broad double wing-bars and whitish fringes and tip of tertials are very distintive. In Japan, these character is had by only Pallas's Leaf Warbler. The supercilium is rather thin and pale yellow. Eyestripe is usually dark and rather thin, but the border between the earcoverts is usually indistinct. In Pallas's Leaf Warbler, eyestripe is usuallly broader and more blackish, and the border between eyestripe and earcoverts is more distinct. The call is metallic and loud upward-inflected 'chuwee'. |
 |
2. 13 Oct. 1998 Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref. The same bird as on picture No.1. Note the indistinctive medean crown stripe. |
 |
3. 3 June 2002. Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref. This is a spring individual which have worn plumages. The fringes and tips of tertials was very indistictive that was rather similar to Two-barred Greenish Warbler. But, the call is very different with (Two-barred) Greenish Warbler. Greenish Warbler has no median crown stripe unlike Yellow-browed Leaf Warbler. |
 |
4.3 June 2002. Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref. The same bird as on picture No.3.The head is seen large. the mandibles is slim and short. |