Birds of Mongolia

ID Resembles Arctic Warbler in large size, robust build and narrow wing-bar(s), but distinguished by pale legs, sooty-grey crown and rufescent-brown rump contrasting with greenish back. Voice Song is a high, thin, ‘shivery’, cricket-like seeseeseeseeseesee-si-si-si. Call is hard tit-tit. Habitat Nests in deciduous and mixed forest with heavy undergrowth and litter in mountain taiga and river valleys to 1,800 m. Uses other wooded habitats on migration. Behaviour Active, if somewhat sluggish forager in forest undergrowth; not shy but prefers dense cover. Often pumps tail in downward motion. Status Very rare local breeding visitor to Tuul and Terelj river valleys (unconfirmed breeding records). In addition, migrants have been recorded in river valleys in Hentii Mountains and Ulz River valley (Mongol Daguur steppe). Presumably present late April to late August.

ID Similar to Pallas’s Leaf Warbler but plainer, lacking that species’ yellow rump and orange smudge in front of eye and showing only a faint crown-stripe. Compare also Hume’s Leaf Warbler. Distinguished from all other Phylloscopus warblers by small size and bold double wing-bars. Voice Call is a high, sharp and rising ts-weet, repeated in song. Habitat Breeds in deciduous and mixed montane forest, often near water; occurs in other arboreal and scrub habitats, including wooded parks and gardens on migration. Behaviour Nests on ground but feeds as high as canopy. On migration, will join foraging flocks of other small woodland birds. Status Fairly common breeding visitor in all major mountain ranges across Mongolia except Gobi and steppe mountains, and fairly common passage migrant throughout, late April to late September. [Alt: Inornate Warbler]

ID Very similar to Yellow-browed Warbler (of which it was once regarded a subspecies). It is drabber grey (vs. yellowish-green) above, with darker legs and bill and whitish (vs. yellowish) wing-bars. However, some individuals appear very similar in the field, so the two species may not be safely distinguishable by plumage characters alone. See Yellow-browed Warbler for comparison with other leaf warblers. Voice Call is a sweet two-note we-soo, very different from Yellow-browed call. This is repeated in song, which ends with long harder tzweeeee note. Habitat Breeds at higher altitude than Yellow-browed in deciduous, coniferous and mixed montane forest up to 2,700 m, typically near clearings with associated thick brush, e.g. wild rose. Behaviour Similar to Yellow-browed Warbler. Status Uncommon breeding visitor in Mongol-Altai, Hövsgöl, Khangai and Hentii mountain ranges, and common passage migrant elsewhere. Relative distribution of Hume’s Leaf and Yellow-browed Warblers is poorly understood in Mongolia. However, Hume’s is clearly more common in forested mountains in western than in eastern and central Mongolia. Late April to late August (to mid-September in the Gobi).

ID The most distinctive of Mongolian leaf warblers due to very small size and bold markings. The combination of contrasting crown and eye-stripes, broad double wing-bars, yellow rump and orange smudge at base of tiny black bill is diagnostic – though all of these can be hard to see from below. See similar Yellow-browed Warbler and Hume’s Leaf Warbler for distinctions. Voice Song is a surprisingly loud, sweet, high-pitched and varied jumble of trills, twittering and some mimicry. Has been described as the ‘canary of the taiga’. Call is soft and rather weak sooee. Habitat Breeds in coniferous and mixed forest in montane taiga. Occurs in other arboreal and brushy habitats, including in steppe and desert on migration. Behaviour Very active; often hovers while gleaning foliage and hangs upside-down like a tit. Status Fairly common breeding visitor in Hövsgöl, Khangai and Hentii mountain ranges, and common passage migrant throughout, late April to late September.

ID Smallest bird in Eurasia. Resembles Phylloscopus warblers, but conspicuous golden crown with black borders is diagnostic in all plumages. Voice Song is a brief, very hurried and shrill warbling twitter, accelerating in final flourish. Call is a very high-pitched zi or zee-zee-zee. Habitat Coniferous forest. Behaviour Forages at all levels in trees, frequently hovering and darting out to catch insects. Joins foraging flocks of other small woodland birds. Status Uncommon breeding visitor and passage migrant, late April to mid-October, and rare winter resident in coniferous zones of Khangai, Hövsgöl and Hentii ranges.

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LEAF WARBLERS IV & GOLDCREST

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