A record of Booted 
Warbler Hippolais 
caligata from Turkey 
Guy Kirwan 
On the morning of 20 May 1993, 
Mick Davies and I were birding 
along the southern shore of Ercek 
Golii (Van Province). Passerine 
migration over the previous few days 
had been good, and we had already 
seen large numbers of Garden Warbler 
Sylvia horin and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa 
striata that day. Just after we had started to scrutinise a small patch of 
poplars Populus sp., MD drew my attention to what he confidently 
identified as a Booted Warbler, a species with which he was reasonably 
familiar, having seen five individuals in Britain. I was aware that there 
were very few records for Turkey. In addition, my own relative 
inexperience (based on just two individuals) with the species in the field 
led me to take a good full description over the course of the next hour. 
With good light conditions, and a co-operative bird feeding at 2-8 m 
distance in the trees, more occasionally in the canopy, the situation was 
virtually ideal. 
Field Description 
Size and structure: Much more like Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus than 
e.g. Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida (both available for direct comparison). 
A relatively stubby, compact bird, with a proportionately long, broad tail, with 
only slightly rounded comers, but nevertheless retaining its square ended 
appearance. Both bill and tail distinctly shorter than in Olivaceous. Tail 
movements not as accentuated as in Olivaceous and thus noticeably different, the 
tail being occasionally flicked upwards, but not persistently dipped as is the case 
with the latter species. Movements generally lacked the rather lugubrious, 
quirky actions of a typical Hippolais, and were instead more reminiscent of a 
Phylloscopus, being darting and giving the impression of much greater mobility. 
It would also occasionally flycatch on the edge of the trees, behaviour I have 
never seen in a Hippolais. 
Bare parts: Bill c.1/2 head length and distinctly shorter than in Olivaceous 
Warbler, largely pale flesh coloured lower mandible with darker tip, but greyer 
on upper mandible, especially on culmen and at base. Legs very pale flesh colour 
with greyer feet and dark claws. 
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