Yellow-browed Warbler

Phylloscopus inornatus

This tiny, energetic songbird is a master of long-distance travel, often surprising birdwatchers with its unexpected appearances far from its breeding grounds.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Yellow-browed Warbler is a tiny, olive-green warbler with distinctive yellow eyebrows (supercilium) and two pale wing bars. Its underparts are whitish with a slight yellow tinge, and it has a thin, dark bill and legs.

Males and females are virtually identical in appearance. Juveniles closely resemble adults but may have slightly duller plumage and less distinct markings.

Size

Length

10cm to 11cm

Wingspan

15cm to 18cm

Weight

5g to 9g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Olive Yellow

Secondary Colour

White Brown

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Yellow-browed Warbler can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Yellow-browed Warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Yellow-browed Warblers breed in the taiga forests of northern Asia, from eastern Russia to northeastern China. They prefer coniferous and mixed woodlands with a dense understory for nesting.

During winter, they migrate to southern Asia, including India and Southeast Asia. In recent years, increasing numbers have been observed wintering in Western Europe, particularly in the UK, where they are considered rare but regular autumn visitors.

In the UK , sightings are mainly concentrated along the east coast of Scotland and England, with coastal scrubland habitats. Some individuals regularly end up further afield, as far as the coast of Devon and Cornwall in the southwest.

Elevation Range

1,000 to 2,440 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Yellow-browed Warbler. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons