tarsiger.co.uk | qatar birds and other wildlife by Neil Morris

Desert (Lesser) Whitethroat
Sylvia (curruca) blythi/halimodendri/minula??

(Above) Image Copyright Simon Price 2014

(Above) Irkaya Farm, Qatar, 23 February 2014

Most 'Desert' type Whitethroats in the Middle East are assigned to S. c. minula. But I'm not convinced. I believe most 'Desert' types are in fact pale blythi or halimodendri. Hence I have not assigned this bird to a species/sub-species. Perhaps in future we will revisit minula and realise it is truly an exceptionally rare bird in this part of the world.

an informal birding record	tarsiger.co.uk
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Desert (Lesser) Whitethroat Sylvia (curruca) blythi/halimodendri/minula?? (Above) Image Copyright Simon Price 2014 (Above) Irkaya Farm, Qatar, 23 February 2014 Most 'Desert' type Whitethroats in the Middle East are assigned to S. c. minula. But I'm not convinced. I believe most 'Desert' types are in fact pale blythi or halimodendri. Hence I have not assigned this bird to a species/sub-species. Perhaps in future we will revisit minula and realise it is truly an exceptionally rare bird in this part of the world.
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