Yellow-browed Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Scientific Name: Phylloscopus inornatus

Malay Name: Cekup-Daun Kecil Biasa

Chinese Name: 黄眉柳莺

Range: Found from Central Asia to Siberia and northeastern China, wintering to the Indian subcontinent, southern China and mainland Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 11-11.5 cm

Identification: Adult resembles Arctic Warbler and Eastern Crowned Warbler but is smaller and has broad yellowish-white supercilium, two broad yellowish-white wing bars and whitish tips on blackish tertials.

Similar looking species: Arctic Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler

Habitat: Forest, forest edge, wooded areas, parks and gardens.

Behaviour/Ecology: Frequents the canopy.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Location: Central Catchment Forest, Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, former Bidadari Cemetery, Pasir Ris Park and Sentosa.

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Featured reports: Mar 2022, Apr 2022, Oct 2022, Jan 2023, Feb 2023, Dec 2023, Feb 2024, Mar 2024, Oct 2024, Dec 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025, Mar 2025

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Dec 24-Dec 30
Early date 25 Sep 1994
Late date 10 Apr 2022
This species has apparently become far more common in recent years, with several sightings in parks and gardens throughout the winter months.
Yellow-browed Warbler at Fort Siloso. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Yellow-browed Warbler at Fort Siloso. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Yellow-browed Warbler at Fort Siloso. Photo credit: See Toh Yew Wai

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Yellow-browed Warbler)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Phylloscopus inornatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22715310A146638886.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Yellow-browed Warbler. Retrieved on April 30, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/yellow-browed-warbler.

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