Hume's Whitethroat

Unlike many typical warblers, the sexes are almost identical. This is a small species with a grey back, whitish underparts, a grey head with a darker bandit mask through the eyes and a white throat. It is slightly smaller than the Whitethroat, and lacks the chestnut wings and uniform head-face color of that species. The Lesser Whitethroat's song is a fast and rattling sequence of tet or che calls, quite different from the Whitethroat's scolding song.

The Hume's Whitethroat is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Hume's Whitethroat, Sylvia althaea, is a species of typical warbler. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the Lesser Whitethroat; today these are seen as members of a superspecies which also includes the Small Whitethroat. The present species together with the aridland Small Whitethroat(s) seems to form an Asian lineage in the superspecies.(Helbig 2001, Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006) in Hyderabad, India. More

species, Hume's Whitethroat, and the Small Whitethroat from which the Margelanic Whitethroat may also be specifically distinct. In this superspecies, the Lesser Whitethroat seems to form the basal European lineage. More

The adult Hume's Whitethroats in breeding plumage are dark, slaty-grey above. Mantle sometimes have slightly brownish tinge. the flight feathers are dark-brownish. The central pair of tail feathers are black-brownish bluish tinged; the outer pair is white with the brownish shafts and the brownish patches in the base part of the inner webs; the second outer pair is black-brownish with the white terminal spots; other tail feathers are black-brownish. The lore and ear coverts are black-brownish, slightly darker than crown. More

Hume's Whitethroat (Sylvia althaea) is a local resident and winter visitor in India. More

Hume's Whitethroat Hume's Whitethroat Hume's Whitethroat Sylvia althaea Sylvia althaea Sylvia althaea More

(Sylvia curruca) or Hume's Whitethroat (Sylvia althaea) and in the hand it was quite clear why! There was considerable variation between adults and first-winters, with various different stages of moult and wear. For example, this led to some individuals showing white on just the outer tail feather whilst others showed white on the three outer feathers. More