bpp_Blyths Reed Warbler 110504

In life the Marsh Warbler (upper) had distinctly olive-toned upperparts and in particular lacked the sandy-rufous rump/upper-tail coverts of a typical Reed Warbler (lower); the long primary projection and striking pale tips to the primaries of the Marsh Warbler were a particularly distinctive feature.

The bill of the Marsh Warbler (left) appeared slightly shorter and deeper than the bill of a Reed Warbler (right).

The legs of the Marsh Warbler (left) were pinkish-horn, appearing quite yellow in bright sunshine, whereas the legs of a Reed Warbler (right) always appeared darker greyish-horn; the claws of the Marsh Warbler were shorter and less strongly curved than a Reed Warbler's claws.

The notch on the 2nd primary of the Marsh Warbler (left) was noticeably shorter than the corresponding notch on a typical Reed Warbler (right).

On the closed wing of the Marsh Warbler (left) the emargination on the 3rd primary fell well outside the tips of the secondaries, whereas on Reed Warbler (right) it fell more or less level with the secondaries.