Mountain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus) [XC398567]
by Brendan Sloan from Mt Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia (song)
Mountain Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus) [XC241666]
by Mike Nelson from Mount Kerinci, West Sumatra, Sumatra, Indonesia (song)
Subspecies
Phylloscopus trivirgatus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was split into Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus trivirgatus) and Luzon Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus benguetensis) on molecular evidence (Olsson et al. 2005), by this split is not yet recognised by BirdLife International.
Relationships uncertain. Previously thought to form a superspecies with Sulawesi Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus sarasinorum), Timor Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus presbytes), Island Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus poliocephalus) and San Cristobal Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus makirensis), but this is not supported by findings from recent molecular-genetic studies. Molecular data further suggest that nominate subspecies and benguetensis possibly represent two separate species. Further genetic studies and full taxonomic review required. As subspecies are all isolated from one another, it is possible that several species may be involved.
The following 11 subspecies are recognised:
parvirostris Stresemann, 1912 - Peninsular Malaysia (Perak south to Pahang).
trivirgatus Strickland, 1849 - Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa.
sarawacensis (Chasen, 1938) - Northern and north-western Borneo (mountains of Trus Madi, Mulu and Nyiut, Poi Mts of western Sarawak).
benguetensis Ripley and Rabor, 1958 - Northern Philippines (northern Luzon). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Luzon Leaf-Warbler (Phylloscopus benguetensis).
nigrorum (Moseley, 1891) - North-central and central Philippines (southern Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Negros). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum).
peterseni Salomonsen, 1962 - Western Philippines (Palawan). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum).
diuatae Salomonsen, 1953 - Camiguin Sur and north-eastern Mindanao (Mt Hilong-Hilong), in southern Philippines. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum).
malindangensis (Mearns, 1909) - Zamboanga Peninsula and Mt Malindang, in north-western Mindanao. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum).
flavostriatus Salomonsen, 1953 - Mt Katanglad and mountains of Misamis Oriental Province, in north-central Mindanao. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum).
mindanensis (E. J. O. Hartert, 1903) - Southern Mindanao (Mt Apo, Mt Mayo). Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Negros Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus nigrorum).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet