Page 326 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WARBLERS AND ALLIES
Order Passeriformes Family Sylviidae Species Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Reed Warbler
long wing feathers,
fringes pale but
diffuse
plain, pale brown
upperparts
(redder brown
on juvenile)
long tail with thin pale
pale undertail eye-ring
ADULT coverts bright buff
underside
rump
a little
brighter
than back
IN FLIGHT
white
throat
slightly
rounded tail dark long, slim
brown or
ADULT greyish legs sharp bill
asically a reedbed bird, the Reed Warbler may sometimes
Bbreed away from reeds, in drier spots or in willows growing over ADULT
shallow water, for example. Its plain colours make it very like some
other, rarer, warblers, but unlike the common Sedge Warbler. Its
repetitive song is also distinctive as a rule, although subject to some FLIGHT: short, low, jerky flitting flights between
variation. On migration, Reed Warblers may be found in reeds or willows, tail low, sometimes spread as it tilts
unexpected places, such as thickets and hedgerows, posing over and dives into cover.
identification problems with less closely
related species such as Melodious Warblers. GRASPING REEDS
The Reed Warbler is adept at
VOICE Call simple, low churr or chk; grasping vertical stems and
song rhythmic, repetitive, low, with shuffling through dense reedbeds.
occasional high, musical variations, trrik
trrik trrik, chrr chrr chrr chrr, chewe chewe trrrt
trrrt trrrt tiri tiri.
NESTING Deep nest of grass, reedheads,
and moss, woven around several upright
stems in reedbed; 3–5 eggs; 2 broods;
May–July.
FEEDING Forages for insects and spiders
on mud and in thick, wet vegetation and
foliage of willows; also eats some seeds.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Widespread as breeding bird and
summer visitor north to Great
slightly SEDGE WARBLER flatter head Britain and S Scandinavia. In
colder see p.322 shorter reedbeds, especially extensive,
brown pale stripe wings wet ones, but also in reedy ditches
above over eye
and willows beside lakes and
tawny rump rivers. Migrants on coasts between
April and October.
MARSH WARBLER
different song; mottled SAVI’S WARBLER Seen in the UK
see p.325 undertail coverts see p.329 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 13–15cm (5–6in) Wingspan 18–21cm (7–8 1 ⁄2in) Weight 11–15g ( 3 ⁄8 – 9 ⁄16oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure
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