{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox |image = Chinese Leaf-warbler.jpg | image_caption = At Taibai Shan, Shanxi, China | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Phylloscopus yunnanensis'' |volume=2016 |article-number=e.T22732052A95041483 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22732052A95041483.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Phylloscopus yunnanensis | authority = La Touche, 1922<ref name=hm3/> | synonyms = ''Phylloscopus sichuanensis'' }}

The '''Chinese leaf warbler'''<ref name=hm3/> ('''''Phylloscopus yunnanensis''''') is a species of Old World warbler in the family Phylloscopidae. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is found only in China.<ref name=hm3/>

==Etymology== The Chinese leaf warbler's scientific binomial name, ''Phylloscopus yunnanensis'', originates from the Irish ornithological naturalist authority John David Digues La Touche in 1922.<ref name=hm3/> A more recent Latin "junior synonym" alternate scientific name is ''P. sichuanensis'' from 1992.<ref name=aoc/> ''Yunnanensis'' and ''sichuanensis'' derive from the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China.

==Description== The Chinese leaf warbler is a brightly colored, small leaf-warbler, with a total length of around 10&nbsp;cm and a wing length of 5–6&nbsp;cm. Its body is slightly elongated and compact. The warbler has a slightly forked or notched tail that is almost square in shape. Its bill is pointed and short (around 1&nbsp;cm long) and dark brown in color, brownish-yellow on the underside. The wings are very short and rounded, the legs slender and very dark. Claws and toes are dark brownish-grey with dusky buff undersides.<ref name=wea/>

===Plumage=== Birds generally go through variations in the appearance of their plumage, depending on the stage in their life, the seasons or nutritional intake. In the spring season, this warbler in its adult phase has a new, fresh, or bright appearance already somewhat dulled. In the adult summer phase its feathers appear worn, or duller.<ref name=wea/>

The sexes are similar in appearance. The Chinese leaf warbler is pale green to olive-green above and has a yellowish-white rump. The head pattern is noticeable and striking in appearance, with a well-defined pale eyebrow stripe, a faint yellow median crown stripe and dusky-olive lateral crown stripes. The tertial feathers are sepia-colored and have whitish tips. The eye is surrounded by a broken eyering; the iris of the eye is dark brown.<ref name=wea/>

==Distribution and habitat== The Chinese leaf warbler can be found in confined regions or locations in central and north-eastern China.<ref name=hm3/><ref name=wea/><ref name=hm3b/> It is common in Xin Shui, Sichuan Province.<ref name=aoc/><ref name=wea/> The species is migratory, but its wintering grounds are currently unknown.<ref name=wea/>

It inhabits mountainous forests, preferring spruce and fir. It can be found at elevations of 200–2800 m, but usually between 1000 m and 2600 m. This species favors low secondary growth.<ref name=wea/>

==Behavior== Chinese leaf warblers can be found singly or in pairs during the breeding season. These birds are generally somewhat bold in personality. They almost always keep to tree canopies, where they feed on insects. Males also sing from the tops of trees.<ref name=wea/>

===Songs=== The Chinese leaf warbler has a unique song compared to other species of its genus. The song often lasts over a minute and is dry and monotonous ''tsiridi'' repeated five times. The call note is loud and varied, an irregular series of clear scolding whistles of ''{{Not a typo|tueet}}'' repeated five times, then four series of decreasing lengths, finishing up with another 5-fold note. The last phrase can be a hammering ''{{Not a typo|tueet-tuee-tee}}'', with a seven-fold ''tee''. The close-range call is a soft ''trr-trr''.<ref name=wea/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=aoc>{{cite journal|last1=Alström|first1=Per|last2=Olsson|first2=Urban|last3=Colston|first3=Peter R.|year=1992|title=A new species of Phylloscopus warbler from central China|journal=Ibis|volume=134|issue=4|pages=329–334|doi=10.1111/j.1474-919x.1992.tb08011.x}}</ref>

<ref name=wea>{{cite book|last=Baker|first=Kevin|year=1997|title=Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa|publisher= A&C Black|isbn=978-0-7136-3971-1}}</ref>

<ref name=hm3b>{{cite book|editor=Dickinson, Edward C.|year=2003|title=The Howard and Moore's Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World|edition=3rd|publisher=Christopher Helm|location=London|isbn=0-7136-6536-X}}</ref>

<ref name=hm3>La Touche (1922); also noted as ''Phylloscopus yuwnanensis'' [sic] on p. 73 of ''Transactions of the Science Society of China'', Vol. 9; also known as ''The Transactions of the Chinese Association for the Advancement of Science''; Zhongguo, Ke Xue She, Science Society of China, 1947. [La Touche book: ''The Birds of Hupeh'', 1922.]?</ref>

}}

==Further reading== *Alström, P., Olsson, U., & Colston, P. R. (1990). "Description of a possible new species of leaf warbler of the genus Phylloscopus from China". ''Bull. Brit. Orn. Club'', 110(1), 43-47; British Ornithologists' Club. *BI, Zhong-Lin (2003); SUN, Yue-Hua; JIA, Chen-Xi; JIANG, Ying-Xin; "Observation on the Incubating Behavior of the Chinese Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus yunnanensis at Lianhuashan, Gansu", ''Chinese Journal of Zoology'', Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Issue 2003-06.

==External links== {{Commons category|Phylloscopus yunnanensis}} {{Wikispecies|Phylloscopus yunnanensis}}

{{portalbar|Birds|Animals}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q3727652}}

Chinese leaf warbler Category:Birds of China Category:Wintering birds of Indochina Chinese leaf warbler