Just like other Leaf Warblers (Seciercus and Phylloscopus) identification of the White-Spectacled and Grey-Cheeked Warblers can get a little confusing at times. However with a little attention to their songs or calls, one can nail the identification of these similar species quite easily. With the proliferation of digital photography, the task of warbler-identification has become easier. One can study at leisure the fleeting glimpse of the warbler frozen in one's camera memory. No doubt an informative guide like Vannya is a big boon to both beginners and experts, with id pointers and hints to make identification a wee bit easier.
Lets now demystify the identification of White-spectacled & Grey-cheeked Warblers. In all warblers, their calls are the first and best way of recognizing species. Morphologically, the lores are the most important characteristic and merit careful attention – those of the White-spectacled have a yellowish tinge, whereas they are grey in the case of the Grey-cheeked. The other indicators are rather difficult to see, unless one is able to observe a bird that is still or one has good images. The crown stripe of the White-spectacled is dark grey and distinct, while that of the Grey-cheeked being indistinct against the background of its dark grey crown. The crown of the White-spectacled, on the other hand, is pale grey. The cheeks of the White-spectacled are olive in colour, those of the Grey-cheeked are obviously grey – which is the reason for its name. The eye-rings of both are broken in front of the eye. If you manage to get a glimpse of it, the lower mandible of the White-spectacled is paler. The legs of the White-spectacled are also pale, those of the Grey-cheeked are slightly darker. The chin of the Grey-cheeked is whitish, as compared to yellow in the case of the Grey-cheeked. However, having said all of this, both species are part of a big taxonomic complex across their biogeographic range and set for a future split. We do hope we have made the wonderful world of warblers a little less confusing!
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