Siberian chiffchaff Siberian chiffchaff Siberian chiffchaff ("Phylloscopus (collybita) tristis") is a leaf-warbler which is usually considered a subspecies of the common chiffchaff, but may be a species in its own right. Siberian chiffchaff breeds in Siberia east of the Pechora River and winters in the lower Himalayas. It is also regularly recorded in western Europe in winter, and it is likely that the numbers involved have been underestimated due to uncertainties over identification criteria, lack of good data and recording policies (Sweden and Finland only accept trapped birds). Because of their unfamiliar appearance, British records in the 1950s and 1960s were originally
Canary Islands chiffchaff and a longer tail. Its underparts have a brownish-buff tone, especially on the flanks and breast, and the upperparts are darker brown than the common chiffchaff. Many calls are similar to the common chiffchaff but the song lacks the metronomic quality of that species and is harsher, shorter and more varied and with a faster delivery. The Canary Islands chiffchaff occurs in most habitats from coastal gardens to high altitude vegetation but is absent from semi-desert scrub at lower altitudes. In the breeding period, January to June, the Canary Islands chiffchaff is territorial and is found singly or in pairs,