Ruppell’s Warbler
Curruca ruppeli
Ruppell's Warbler is a rare vagrant to Britain, with sightings mostly limited to the southern coast, particularly during migration periods. It is typically seen in the UK on rare occasions, often in the spring or autumn.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Ruppell’s Warbler in the field.
The species can be identified by its grey-brown back, white underside, and distinctive white eye-ring, as well as its pale yellow throat patch and dark stripe through the eye. Its wings and tail are also notable for their dark brown colour with pale edges.
Ruppell's Warbler is slightly smaller than a House Sparrow, with a more slender build.
The male has a grey-brown back, white underside, and a pale yellow throat patch, with a dark stripe running through the eye and a white eye-ring, with little seasonal variation in its plumage.
The female's plumage is similar to the male's, although it may be slightly duller in colour, making it challenging to distinguish between the sexes based on plumage alone.
The call of Ruppell's Warbler is a sharp, high-pitched "tak" or "tek" sound, while its song is a melodic, warbling phrase that is often described as sweet and musical.
Ruppell's Warblers are active, insectivorous birds that forage for food in low vegetation and shrubs, often flitting between branches in search of small invertebrates, and they have a rapid, agile flight style.
Ruppell's Warbler can be confused with other Curruca warblers, such as the Sardinian Warbler or the Subalpine Warbler, but it can be distinguished by its pale yellow throat patch and distinctive white eye-ring, as well as its grey-brown back and dark stripe through the eye.
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