Mountain chiffchaff Mountain chiffchaff The mountain chiffchaff or eastern chiffchaff ("Phylloscopus sindianus") is a species of leaf warbler found in the Caucasus ("P. s. lorenzii") and Himalayas ("P. s. sindianus"), and is an altitudinal migrant, moving to lower levels in winter. The nominate subspecies is similar to the Siberian chiffchaff, but with a finer darker bill, browner upperparts and buff flanks; its song is almost identical to the common chiffchaff, but the call is a weak "psew". "P. s. lorenzii" is warmer and darker brown than the nominate race; it is sympatric with common chiffchaff in a small area in the Western
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,