Birds · Passeriformes · Sylviidae

Cyprus Warbler

Curruca melanothorax

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Cyprus warbler is a bird that breeds only on the island, the male showing a black cap, a red eye-ring and a breast densely spotted with black on white, a pattern no other warbler in its genus has. It winters in Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Sinai. Like the Cyprus wheatear, it falls victim to the illegal trapping of birds on the island.

Weight

11 g – 16 g

Size

13 cm – 14 cm

Lifespan

7 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

The black spotting on the male's breast is unique among the warblers of its genus and makes it the only one identifiable at a glance even in poor light.
It is endemic to Cyprus as a breeder, and its entire world population depends on the Mediterranean scrub of a single island.
It is one of the main victims of illegal trapping with limesticks and nets in Cyprus: the birds caught are sold as ambelopoulia, a banned traditional dish whose trade still moves millions of euros.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Mediterranean scrub, maquis and bushy slopes of Cyprus; winters in the Levant and north-east Africa
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 13 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs

Sources consulted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus_warbler