First genetically confirmed Eastern Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans for Sweden

Abstract

An adult male Sylvia cantillans sensu lato was ringed at Falsterbo Bird Observatory on 19 May 2013. Plumage, biometry and calls suggested an Eastern Subalpine Warbler S. cantillans sensu stricto, recently given species status by the Swedish taxonomy committee. As of 2012, there are seventy accepted Subalpine Warbler records in Sweden but none has been assigned to any of the three new splits: Western (inornata), Eastern (cantillans) or Moltoni’s (subalpina) Warbler. A genetic analysis of the Falsterbo bird showed it to be Sylvia cantillans albistriata, the first of this taxon to be unequivocally identified in Sweden.