Buff-throated Warbler Phylloscopus subaffinis      photos Sid Francis

Comparison of under mandibles - with worn plumages these species far more alike than indicated in photo

 A warbler that lacks both wingbar and crown stripe, which are easy to see features. Looks like a washed out Tickell's, but has a faint buffish (yellowish) upper breast patch that can be difficult to see in the field. and best observed in photos. Resembles a Bush Warbler but less skulky, with it readily perching on open banches. It breeds far lower than tickell's, and in breeding season, where you find this bird can give the best clue to its identity.

Similar species - easily confused with a washed out Tickell's, but during breeding season Tickell's found in high Alpine habitat around the 4,000m mark, while Buff-throated breeds lower, at Wolong/Balang, down to 2,000m and then only going up to 3,100m. On passage more difficult with both species turning up in any habitat. Has a faint yellowish wash forming an upper breast patch, which differs from tickell's uniform yellow, and is best seen in photos that may also reveal a dark tip to yellow under mandible. Tickell's has an all yellow under mandible, and this difference should be a  diagnostic feature, but again difficult to see in the field. Also similar to dusky but more open perching behaviour and of course doesn't give a "chick" sounding call. Yellow-streaked is also full capped and lacks wingbar but again differs from buff-throated by being more of a skulker with a very different sounding song - one that ends in a  pleasant sounding trill. It also looks bigger, despite yellow in the name, no yellowish wash to any underparts (very faint yellow streaks)  and a distinct whitish hint to the throat.

Habitat - a bird of open areas, liking dense tangles of bush and scrub, the type of habitat that regenerates after the old forest clearances. Habitat that can also include well vegetated (again with bushes/scrub) forest edges and marginal pasture - at Wolong/Balang we find from 2,000m to around 3,100m which seems the general range for this species.

Vocalizations - song not especially distinctive or attention drawing - repeated phrases made up of a series of 4 or 5 high pitched notes that slightly vary in pitch and length - rather similar to Tickell's but slower.. Single note call even less distinctive 

Song here - xeno-canto     Peter Boesman, XC916484. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/916484