Melodious

I’m thinking back to a glorious summer in Italy, where I noticed a loud song coming from the bushes in Parco della Caffarella in Rome:

Melodious Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
It’s a large warbler of some kind, with a massive-looking head compared to its body. It’s also a bright yellow and brown colour. It’s not one I’ve ever seen before.

Lovely, isn’t it?

Melodious Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s a Melodious Warbler, Hippolais polyglotta, and it’s singing with the many tongues of its name. It’s a common breeding bird, here for the summer, and then off to West Africa, south of the Sahara for the Italian winter.

I’m spellbound by its song.

Melodious Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I love the head back, mouth open singing pose as it throws its song as far as possible across the fields and bushes.

Melodious Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I could spend all day with them.

More from Parco della Caffarella

Sardinian Warbler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Cooked Eye There's a male Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala, in the bushes. It seems quite agitated. I love the scratchy sound they make… read more
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Monk Parakeet - Caffarella - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Monk Parakeets at home These Monk Parakeets are making themselves at home: They've spread in many European countries because of escapes from the pet… read more

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