The Iberian chiffchaff (Phylloscopus ibericus) is a
species of
leaf warblerendemic to Portugal, Spain and North Africa, west of a line stretching roughly from the western Pyrenees via the mountains of central Spain to the Atlantic.
Taxonomy and etymology
The name "chiffchaff" is onomatopoeic, referring to the repetitive chiff-chaff song of the
common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita).[2] There are similar names in some other European languages, such as the
DutchTjiftjaf, the
GermanZilpzalp and
Welshsiff-saff.
The genus name Phylloscopus is from
Ancient Greekphullon, "leaf", and skopos, "seeker" (from skopeo, "to watch"). The specific ibericus is
Latin for "
Iberian".[3]
Previously the Iberian chiffchaff was considered as a
subspecies of the common chiffchaff. As of 2016, it is recognised as a separate
species under the name Phylloscopus ibericus[4] for the following reasons (compared to the common chiffchaff):[5]
Due to current research on these species, it has been discovered that Iberian Chiffchaff is the most divergent among the members of the chiffchaff species complex. The Iberian Chiffchaff is slightly larger and paler, with more olive-colored plumage.[6]
In past, erroneously listed as Phylloscopus brehmii.[7][8]
^Helbig, A. J.; Martens, J.; Seibold, I.; Henning, F.; Schottler, B. & Wink, M. (1996): Phylogeny and species limits in the Palearctic Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita complex: mitochondrial genetic differentiation and bioacoustic evidence. Ibis 138(4): 650–666.
Svensson, Lars (2001). "The correct name of the Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus Ticehurst 1937, its identification and new evidence of its winter grounds". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 121: 281–296.