Subalpine Warbler

(Sylvia cantillans)

Category of conservation concern (IUCN, 2020) – Least Concern

Population size: 3000-8000 pairs

Distribution pattern

With patchy distribution, densely covering the Eastern Rhodopes and the area of the valleys of the rivers Struma and Mesta with the adjacent parts of the surrounding mountains. With several isolated breeding sites – in the Western Rhodopes, along the Arda River Valley, in Sakar and Cape Emine. Single singing males have been observed in Northern Bulgaria, where the discovery of new breeding sites can be expected.

Comparative distribution of the species compared to the first breeding birds atlas (Iankov, 2007): Breeding locality until 2007 | Breeding locality until 2007, confirmed after 2015 – | New breeding locality after 2015. – The breeding localities after 2015 are identified on a base of raw data from smartbirds.org.

Habitats

Breeds only in sclerophyllous scrub, strictly keeping to sites with xerophytic vegetation, mainly of Juniperus oxycedrus, sometimes mixed with other bushes (Paliurus spina – christi, Rubus sp., etc.) and single trees (often Quercus pubescens). Probably the limited distribution of this specific habitat determines the specific character of the distribution pattern of the species.

Trends in population changes for the period 2013-2020

Not analysed

Threats

Not analysed