A few notes on some of the endemics encountered on our recent trip to Mallorca.
Balearic Warbler
Compared to the closely related and often considered conspecific Marmora's Warbler, Balearic Warblers differ in having a paler throat and often brown markings on the belly and flanks (extreme birds can recall Dartford Warbler). Belearic also shows more orange at the base of the bill and structurally are more long tailed and Dartford Warbler like whereas Marmora's are more Subalpine Warbler-structured.
The songs of Balearic and Marmora's are also distinctly different
Moltoni's Warbler
Moltoni's Warbler differ from other members of the Subalpine Warbler-complex mainly by the salmon pink underparts and the narrower sub-moustachial stripe. The moult strategy is also different with a complete moult on the wintering grounds by all young birds and some adults.
The complete moult in the wintering grounds infers that fresh looking birds in Spring with fresh primaries with a hint of pink salmon underparts are Moltoni's Warblers.
A presumed Moltoni's Warbler- a bird in the picnic area on Cabrera island. Subalpine Warblers also pass through Cabrera so careful identification is required, preferably involving hearing the diagnostic rattle call of Moltoni's.
Song and call of Moltoni's Warbler including the diagnostic wren like rattle.
Subalpine Warbler taxonomy across Europe is complex with some authorities splitting Western and Eastern Subalpine Warbler in addition to Moltoni's Warbler, Further taxonomic divisions include ibiriae and inornata within 'Western Subalpine' and Shirihai and Svensson also divide Eastern into cantillans and albistrata . Currently IOC have a Subalpine-complex two way split; Moltoni's and Subalpine Warbler. For the Subalpine complex vocalisations see link below:
In comparison to the Moltoni's Warbler photographs on this post, here's a bird photographed in the Western Sahara last Spring showing more orangey underparts which is indicative of 'Western' Subalpine Warbler. Typically Western Subalpine Warbler should show more orangey and deep peach red underparts with Eastern showing more brick red underparts. According to Shirihai and Svensson inornata of NW Africa is more orangey than iberiae of Iberia and this bird does seem to fit inornata fairly well.
Another 'Subalpine' Warbler photographed in Morrocco a few years ago. The bird actually seems to show quite a pinkish toned underparts, and seems to have completely moulted recently so could be a possible Moltoni's candidate. (Maybe I've seen one before without knowing?). Moltoni's do move through NW Africa on migration.
Mediterranean Flycatcher
Mediterranean Flycatcher differs from Spotted Flycatcher in being overall smaller, a more sandy coloured ground colour with almost diagnostic white stripes on the crown and generally little streaking on the breast.
Mediterranean Flycatcher is not split by Shirihai and Svensson. There are two races balearica and tyrrhenica which are split from Spotted Flycatcher into Mediterranean Flycatcher by IOC.
More on Med Flys HERE
Balearic Shearwater
The 'original' Balearic split, once Yelkouan and Balearic Shearwaters of the Mediterranean were considered conspecific with Manx Shearwater.
Balearic Woodchat Shrike and other endemic sub-species
This local sub-species (badius) lacks the white primary base patch of nominate Woodchat and also has a generally deeper bill and a different pattern of black on the forehead. There are other Balearic/Mediterranean sub-species of European birds including Great Tit, Crossbill, Linnet, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and others.
The Mediterranean race of Linnet, mediterranea generally have more vibrant red on the breast and crown.
Mediterranean Shag
Desmarestii, the race of Shag in the Mediterranean is smaller and long-billed than nominate Shag and the immature birds are characteristically very white on the underparts and more grey toned on the upperparts.
Lilford's Wall Lizard
Of course it's not just endemic birds on the Balearic's and in addition to Lilford's Wall Lizard (above) there is also Majorcan Mid-wife toad and Ibiza Wall Lizard on the herping front more here and over 120 endemic plants on the botany front.
REFERENCES
Shirihai and Svensson Handbook of the Birds of the Western Palearctic
Nils Van Duivendijk, Advanced Bird Id Guide, The Western Palearctic
BB, Vol 112
Speybroeck et al, Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Britain and Europe
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