Western Bonelli’s Warbler
Photo: Kookaburra 81 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Leaf Warblers

Western Bonelli’s Warbler

Phylloscopus bonelli

LCLeast Concern
Family
Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

The western Bonelli's warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) is a warbler in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, they are now usually considered to be two species:

Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli, which breeds in southwest Europe and north Africa
Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis, which breeds in southeast Europe and Asia Minor
The breeding ranges of the two species do not overlap; while their appearance and songs are very similar, the calls are completely different (see below). They also show marked difference in mtDNA sequence.
The species is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Breeds western and central Europe; winters to Sahel of northern Africa.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.