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
The Life of Birds matter had been covered before by Attenborough within "Life on Earth", in an episode entitled "Lords of the Air", but now he was free to expand on it. However, by his own confession, despite being especially fascinated by one family, the birds of paradise, Attenborough was not an expert in ornithology. Nevertheless, the notion of an entire series devoted to the creatures excited him, as he would be able to not only communicate his findings to the viewing audience, but further his own knowledge as well. From the outset, the production team were determined that the sound of birds calling