Limestone Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus calciatilis
Taxonomy
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Phylloscopidae
Genus: Phylloscopus
Species: Phylloscopus calciatilis (Alström, Davidson, Duckworth, Eames, Le, Nguyen, Olsson, Robson & Timmins, 2009)
Vietnamese: Chích núi đá vôi
Other name: Limestone Leaf-warbler
IUCN Red List category: LC
Where to watch
Phong Nha - Ke BangCuc PhuongBa Be
Sounds
Newly-described species:
A new species of Phylloscopus warbler, which we name Phylloscopus calciatilis Limestone Leaf Warbler, is described from central and northern Vietnam and central and northern Laos; it probably also breeds in southernmost China. In morphology, the new species is very similar to Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti, but it is smaller with a proportionately larger bill and rounder wing. Its song and calls are diagnostic. Based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, the new species is most closely related to P. ricketti and Yellow-vented Warbler Phylloscopus cantator, and it is inferred to be sister to the latter. The mitochondrial divergences between these three species are at the low end of the variation found in other species of Phylloscopus and Seicercus warblers, but greater than in other taxa generally treated as subspecies. Possible introgressive hybridization between the new species and P. ricketti is discussed, but more data are needed to establish whether it does occur and, if it does, to what extent. The new species appears to have a restricted breeding range in limestone karst environments, where it is locally common and therefore not under any immediate threat. In view of the recognition of the new species, all previous records of P. ricketti sensu lato need to be re-evaluated.
Ref: Description of a new species of Phylloscopus warbler from Vietnam and Laos. Per Alstrom, Pete Davidson, J.W. Duckworth, Jonathan C. Eames, Trai Trong Le, Cu Nguyen, Urban Olsson, Craig Robson, and Rob Timmins. (2010) Ibis 152, 145168.
