DUSKY WARBLER
Phylloscopus fuscatus
Family Phylloscopidae

L 127 mm (5")
rare, migrant

Bird # 389 - December 2012

This bird is not often seen in the Philippines. According to A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines, it was only seen once in 1971. It is described as "skulker, near the ground in marshy areas".  Its distinguishing field marks are the long white eyebrow, long, fine bill, and lack of wing bars. It is darker than an Arctic Warbler.  Its call is described as a "harsh tschack-tschack". We thought it sounded like a louder version of the Arctic Warbler's call.

It was interesting to watch this bird. As described in the Kennedy guide, it stayed inside the shrubs, either on the ground or on low branches. Its behavior was markedly different from the Arctic Warblers that were moving through the middle and upper branches of the nearby trees. This individual was first seen by the group of Rob Hutchinson, Irene Dy, and Bram Demeulemeester.