Barred Warbler - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

Within the genus Sylvia it is highly distinctive; the barred underside is shared only with the Cyprus Warbler, which has black barring and an entirely different overall colour pattern. The Barred Warbler seems to represent an ancient lineage of Sylvia warblers on its own and does not appear to have any particularly close relatives in the genus.

Two subspecies are recognised. The nominate Sylvia nisoria nisoria occurs over most of the species' range, while Sylvia nisoria merzbacheri occurs at eastern end of the range in central Asia. The latter is marginally paler and less heavily barred than the nominate subspecies, but they are barely distinct and intergrade where the ranges meet. Some authors consider them synonymous.