Abstract

During February and March 2023, a total of 71 Common Chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita were trapped and ringed in Jubail and Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Genetic samples, which allowed for subspecific identification, were taken from 59 birds – 15 in February and 44 in March. A total of 52 birds were genetically identified as P. c. abietinus, three as P. c. brevirostris/caucasicus, three as P. c. collybita and one as ‘Siberian Chiffchaff’ P. c. tristis. The appearance and biometrics of these birds and the timing and ratios of the subspecies wintering in and migrating through Saudi Arabia are discussed here, as are vocalisations of wintering birds. The records of brevirostris/caucasicus, nominate collybita andSiberian Chiffchaffrepresent the first confirmed records of these subspecies in the country, while this study also confirms abietinus as the most common subspecies in eastern Saudi Arabia during early spring migration.