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Willow Warbler
(Phylloscopus trochilus)
: "Willow Wren"
 German name(s): "Fitis"
Size: 10.5-11.5 cm; wing span 16.5-22 cm
Weight: 6-12 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Willow Warblers are very small leaf warblers.
Overall, their plumage
is dominated by olive-greyish hues. The front is light-grey to
light olive-grey, with some yellow patches interspersed irregularly.
The crown, nape of the neck, back, rump and upperwing coverts are
dark olive-grey. The flight feathers are dark-grey with narrow white
leading edges.
They have yellowish supercilia and olive-grey eye stripes. Their
characteristic feature is that the ear coverts have an olive-grey
frame that is not present in other, similar species.
There are small differences between the three races, with the western
birds having most olive and yellowish tints, while the central Asian
birds tend to be somewhat browner, while the eastern Asian population
is greyest.
The irises are dark. The bill has a grey upper mandible and a horn-coloured
lower mandible. The legs and feet are pale pinkish-grey.
Juvenile
birds have an entirely pale-yellowish front.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared to Common
Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers have on average less conspicuous
supercilia and a longer primary wing projection. But that primary
projection is smaller than that of the Wood Warbler, which also has
much more yellow on head and chin.
Direct comparison of primary projection of
Common Chiffchaff (top),
Willow Warbler (centre) and
Wood Warbler (bottom)
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Willow
Warbler at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Willow Warbler is available
HERE
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There are three races of Willow Warblers, which are a strongly
migratory species. Their migration, in particular that of the
eastern Asian race "yakutensis", is amongst the most extreme
in the bird world.
Nominate race
"trochilus" breeds in Europe, from the Pyrenees and the Alps
northwards, except northern Scandinavia.
This race spends the northern winters in sub-Saharan western Africa.
Race "acredula" breeds in northern Scandinavia and from there
eastwards, up to western Siberia, and up to geographic latitudes
of about 70 degrees. This race migrates to its winter quarters
in central Africa.
Race "yakutensis" breeds in eastern Siberia, up to the Bering
Sea (some even reach Alaska), and ALL birds of this race migrate
to eastern and southern Africa during the northern winter (thus
NOT to more southern locations in Asia).
On passage Willow Warblers can be found anywhere between their
breeding ranges and their winter quarters, i.e., all around the
Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Middle East, southern Asia (but
northward of the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau), Arabia and
northern Africa.
Both Asian races migrate primarily via the Asian - East-African
Flyway, while the European race "trochilus" also
travels via the western Mediterranean.
In Europe the breeding range of Willow Warblers, race
"trochilus",
extends from the British Isles via western, central and
northern Europe eastwards, anywhere northwards of the
Alps, the Pyrenees and the High Tatra mountains.
Anywhere further South they are found only during passage.
Willow Warblers have a preference for young woodland with
small trees and/or shrubs, both decidious or coniferous.
Often they choose the proximity of water or otherwise
humid/moist habitats.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "trochilus"
D. Wilczynska reports spotting Willow Warblers, race
"trochilus",
near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in April 2016 and again in June 2016.
In May 2017 they were also found in Biebrza NP, Poland.
Race "acredula"
M. Eaton reports spotting Willow Warblers, race
"acredula",
in Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, in June 2018.
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Photos |
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Race "trochilus"
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ADULT |
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Full-frontal view of a Willow Warbler; note the faint yellow
hues (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Frontal view of a Willow Warbler, slightly different posture
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Near-lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Near-lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Near-lateral view of a Willow Warbler issuing its song; note
the characteristic colour pattern around the edges of the ear
coverts (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]
Race "acredula"
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ADULT |
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Near-lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]
Near-lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]
Lateral view of a Willow Warbler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Skjervoy, near Tromso, Norway, June 2018]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
are welcome.