Common Chiffchaff
Common Chiffchaff
Common Chiffchaff
Common Chiffchaff
Recordings 
Scientific Name 
Phylloscopus collybita
Arabic Name 
الدخلة الشائعة
Kuwaiti name 
زعرة
Family 
Length 
11.0 cm
Least Concern

Information

Abundant passage migrant and common winter visitor. The most widespread and abundant leaf warbler in Kuwait. Often migrates in large numbers; sometimes “grounded” by severe weather; up to 500 counted in mid April 1989.
Where in Kuwait 
It uses a wider range of habitats including scrub, and is not so dependent on trees. It is often found near water, unlike the Willow Warbler which tolerates drier habitats. It is insectivorous, moving restlessly though foliage or briefly hovering
In the world 
It has an extremely large range with a moderately increasing population and breeds in open woodlands throughout northern and temperate Europe and Asia. It breeds across Europe and Asia east to eastern Siberia and north to about 70°N, with isolated populations in northwest Africa, northern and western Turkey and northwestern Iran. It is one of the first passerine birds to return to its breeding areas in the spring and among the last to leave in late autumn. It is a migratory passerine which winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia and north Africa. A small insectivorous bird, it is subject to predation by mammals, such as cats and birds, particularly hawks of the genus Accipiter and of course Shrikes during passage migration when they are at their most vulnerable. The Chiffchaff has been estimated to require about one-third of its weight in insects daily, and it feeds almost continuously in the autumn to put on extra fat as fuel for the long migration flight
Local threats 
Habitat loss and degradation