Garden Warbler
Scientific Name: Sylvia borinMaltese Name: Bekkafik
Family: Warblers (Sylviidae)
Occurence: Common
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Garden Warbler is one of the plainest warblers with little or no features really to note. It is simply has grayish-brown plumage and slightly paler underside. It has a short thick bill and a roundish head. Also have grey legs. It also has a pale grey patch on side of neck. It takes insects and spiders from foliage and it loves eating berries and can also take seeds. It makes a small cup made of grass where it lays 4 or 5 eggs between May and July. In autumn during migration, it is often seen in thorns and fig trees. It breeds in most of Europe and migrates to Africa for the winter.
Status:
The Garden Warbler is a common spring and autumn migrant. Falls may occur of more then 200 birds at one site. Usually such high numbers are recorded at Comino.
When to See:
In spring, singles recorded from mid- April onwards but is then only really evident by late-April-May. A few also sighted until early June. The sign of Garden Warblers in May means that spring migration is coming to an end as it is one of the last species to pass through. Autumn; mid-August until October but best time is certainly during September.
Where to See:
Prefers wooded areas, valleys with cover and places with fruit trees present. Buskett and Comino are two very good sites amongst many others.
Photographs:
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Garden Warbler, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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