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Common Grasshopper Warbler
(Locustella naevia)
 German name(s): "Feldschwirl"
Size: 12.5-13.5 cm; wing span: 18-21 cm
Weight: 11-15 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Common Grasshopper Warblers are very small warblers.
The upperparts are pale olive-brown, with a central darker
brown streak on each feather.
The cheeks are greyish and there is a faint eye streak behind the eye.
The underparts are cream-coloured or yellowish-buff with a few dark
brown spots and streaks on the breast and flanks. The wing feathers
are brown with paler brown outer edges. The tail feathers are
reddish-brown, with faint transverse bars on some individuals. The
undertail coverts are streaked.
The irises are brown. The slender, straight bill has a dark-brown
upper mandible and a yellowish-brown lower mandible. Legs and
feet are also yellowish-brown.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Common
Grasshopper 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, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Common Grasshopper Warbler is available
HERE
.
There are three extant races of Common Grasshopper Warblers,
which are a strongly migratory species.
Overall, their breeding range extends from the western European coastline
(and a few reports from south-western Iceland) to central Asia. They
overwinter in a small number of areas spanning from western sub-Saharan
Africa to southern India. On migration they can be found in between,
e.g. in the UAE (most notably the Musandam peninsula).
All three races of Common Grasshopper Warblers can be found in
various parts of Europe.
The breeding range of nominate race
"naevia"
extends from northern Iberian coastal fringe via France to all of
the British Isles and Ireland and via the Benelux countries to
Germany, Denmark and southern Scandinavia as their western
boundary. From there, their range extends eastward to western
European Russia and Ukraine, roughly in
the geographical latitude range from +45 to +60 degrees.
They pass through north-western and near-coastal western Africa
to reach their winter grounds in western sub-Saharan Africa.
Race "straminea" is found further eastward in the same latitude
range, from eastern European Russia to southwestern and southern
central Siberia, eastern Kazakhstan, western Mongolia and northwestern
China. They overwinter in South Asia, mostly in parts of the Indian
subcontinent.
The breeding range of race "obscurior" is restricted to eastern
Turkey and the Caucasus mountain range. They overwinter in eastern
Africa, mostly around Lake Tana and in the highlands north-east of
Addis Abbaba in Ethiopia.
During their migration Common Grasshopper Warblers follow distinct
flight paths, where they can be seen while under way.
Common Grasshopper Warblers have a preference for habitats with
low, dense vegetation, such as areas with tall grass tussocks or
reeds around lakes or riversides, coastal wetlands or swamps,
but also young conifer plantations. They nest in dense clumps,
such as e.g. tall grass tussocks, on or near the ground.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "naevia"
J. Pires reports spotting a Common
Grasshopper Warbler, nominate race
"naevia",
at Castro Verde, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, in August 2020.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by J. Pires.
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Photos |
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Race "naevia"
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal view of a Common Grasshopper Warbler
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Common Grasshopper Warbler
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2020]
Lateral view of a Common Grasshopper Warbler
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2020]
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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.
Common Grasshopper Warbler sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.