Japanese Name: Karafuto-mujisekka

English Name : Radde's Warbler
Scientific Name : Phylloscopus schwarzi

Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi was first described by Dr. Gustav Ferdinand Richard Radde(1831-1903) in 1863. This monotypic species breeds in southern Siberia, northern Manchuia, the Ussuri basin to north Korea and Sakhalin. Migrates through mailnly central and eastern China to southern Burma, Thailand, and southern Indochina (,Mayr and Cottrell 1986, Baker 1997).
The first record in Japan was on 8 Feb. 1985,Okinawa-jima, Okinawa Prefecture. In 1985, it was also recorded on 25 September, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref.; on 17 October Tobi-shima ,Yamagata Pref (Brazil 1991). After then, the record has increased and it is an annual rare passage visitor or winter visitor in Japan, now. I think that it might not be caused by expansion of the distribution, and it had may be overlooked before 1985. Recently, it is often seen on Islands in the Sea of Japan and on Nansei-shoto, southwest Japan.
Yellow-streaked Warbler P. armandii (Japanese name is Mouko-mujisekka), similar to Radde's Warbler has not been recorded, but will be also recorded in Japan for the future.

References:
Baker, K. 1997. Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa. Christopher Helm, London.
Brazil, M. A. 1991. The Birds of Japan. Christopher Helm, London.
Mayr, R. & Cottrell, G. W. (eds.) 1986. Check-list of the Birds of the World. Vol.XI. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambrirdge.

1. 16 Oct. 1997
Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref.

The upperparts is olive brown. more olive than Dusky Warbler. This coloration, however, can change to be more greysh in spring worn plumages. The underparts is buffish. First winter often has yellowish underparts. Note no wing-bar like Dusky Warbler. The eyes usually seem to be larger than Dusky Warbler. The tail also seems to be longer than Dusky Warbler.
It usually moves through undergrowth like Dusky Warbler (unlike other Phylloscopus Warblers).
2. 16 Oct. 1997
Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref.

The same bird as on picture No.1 The under tail-coverts is usually buffish yellow, contrasting with the rest of the underparts.
3. 16 Oct. 1997
Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref.

The same bird as on picture No.1 and 2. Outermost Primary (p10) is longer than other Phylloscopus warblers (exept for Dusky Warbler)。This character is the origin of Japanese name which means 'Sakhalin Dusky Warbler'(See the page of Dusky Warbler).The longest primary is p7 or p8 (almost same length to each other), while is p6 or p7in Dusky Warbler.
The flutter of only right wing suggest that this bird would turn anticlockwisely.
4. 7 Oct. 1991
Wajima-shi, Ishikawa Pref.

Note the broad and buffish supercilium in front of the eye. The width of supercilium, however, has variation, and some birds have rather straight supercilium. The supercilium of Dusky Warbler is usually narrow in front of the eye and buffish at the rear. The bill and legs are thicker and stronger than Dusky Warbler.
The call is the rather softer than Dusky Warbler, 'tak'.
inserted by FC2 system