Tickell's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis      photos Sid Francis

Highest breeding leaf warbler and alpine specialist, found above the treeline on scrubby alpine grasslands. On Balang mountain starts at around 3,500m and goes to over 4,000m. Habitat can include very low scrub no more than a metre high. If scrub is present, can be a common species on high mountain passes.  Yellow undersides and face, that can look quite washed-out on worn birds, full cap and no wing-bars, together with a habitat, the highest of which will see no other breeding warblers make it quite easy to identify. 

Similar species - similarities of worn tickell's - and they can be a lot less yellow than suggested in the above photos - with buff throated is discussed in section for that species, but the essential difference during breeding season is that tickell's is found in vastly different alpine habitat. Only during passage do we really get periods where the two species can be found in similar habitat. Photos may give an indication of diagnostic bill differences - tickell's lower mandible being a rather obvious whole yellow while buff-throated is mainly black. Also see buff-throated, where same criteria apply, over possible confusion with dusky or yellow-streaked.  

Vocalizations - both simple trilling song and one note call very similar to buff-throated. Using playback both species will come into the others vocalizations.

Habitat - scrub above the treeline. At high altitudes around 4,000m, low alpine scrub, often in small sheltered areas that better support denser stands of vegetation. Especially areas that haven't suffered Yak overgrazing.- domestic goats, sheep and especially Yak, and their effects on alpine vegetation, must be one of the biggest threats to this species.

Song here - xeno-canto      Peter Boesman, XC916408. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/916408

Call here - xeno canto     Peter Boesman, XC491445. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/491445.