26

Eurasian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Alternate name(s): "European Reed Warbler", "Reed Warbler*" German name(s): "Teichrohrsänger" Size: 12.5-14 cm; wing span: 17-21 cm Body mass: 9-15 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.15/0.22 (lean/fat)

Europe: Family Group 26 Family Group 26 Table Crested Lark Thekla's Lark Zitting Cisticola Great Reed Warbler Eurasian Reed Warbler Sedge Warbler Marsh Warbler Savi's Warbler Icterine Warbler Melodious Warbler Cetti's Warbler Moustached Warbler Redwing Fieldfare Mistle Thrush Song Thrush Ring Ouzel Common Blackbird Common Starling Spotless Starling Rosy Starling Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eurasian Reed Warblers are small Eurasian warblers. They have an off-white throat and otherwise warm-buff front. The cap, ear coverts and back are warm-brown, with darker grey-brown flight feathers and tail than the rest. Their buff supercilia are short and inconspicuous. The flanks are rich-buff and the rump is red-brown. In Europe these warm, reddish hues separate the species from other, similar warblers. Their most distinguishing feature is the long and thin bill. The eyes have brown irises. The legs and feet are dark-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Eurasian Reed Warbler at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species 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 Eurasian Reed Warbler is available HERE . Eurasian Reed Warblers are a migratory Eurasian species. There are at least 4 extant races: nominate race "scirpaceus", race "fuscus" (the "Caspian Reed Warbler"), race "avicenniae" (the "Mangrove Reed Warbler") and race "ammon" (the "Siwa Reed Warbler"). Altogether, their breeding range spans basically all of Europe southward of ca. 55 degrees latitude, western and central Asia. They overwinter in sub-Saharan and equatorial East Africa, possibly also along the river Nile and in suitable habitats along the coastal fringe of Arabia. During their migration they can be found in areas in between breeding range and winter quarters, usually along distinct migratory routes (some of which cut cross the Sahara desert). In Europe, Eurasian Reed Warblers, nominate race "scirpaceus", are found only as summer breeding migrants. They can breed anywhere westward of a line connecting the Caucasus with southern Finland and southward of a line from southern Finland, via the Baltic Sea coastal fringe, to southern Sweden, the southernmost tip of Norway and the English Midlands (some reach Ireland and stragglers can also find their way to the Hebrides). On the continent they breed basically anywhere outside the major mountain ranges (including the Balkans and parts of Greece) and parts of western Iberia. Eurasian Reed Warblers have a preference for reedbeds, but they will also breed in scrub and in commercial crops such as e.g. rape/canola.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "scirpaceus" J. Pires reports finding Eurasian Reed Warblers, nominate race "scirpaceus", occasionally during the breeding season in the area from Mora, Evora, Portugal, to Coruche, Santarem, Portugal. M. Eaton spotted a Eurasian Reed Warbler, race "scirpaceus", in Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, in September 2019. G. Normand reports spotting a Eurasian Reed Warbler, race "scirpaceus", in Valenciennes, 40 km South of Lille, Hauts-de-France, France, in May 2020. A. Sarok found a Eurasian Reed Warbler, race "scirpaceus", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024.

Photos

Race "scirpaceus"

This race is called the "Eurasian Reed Warbler".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view from above onto a Eurasian Reed Warbler; note the long, thin bill, the warm hues on the back and the red-brown rump (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]

Frontal view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler in shady conditions (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Valenciennes, 40 km South of Lille, Hauts-de-France, France, May 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler in shady conditions (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mequinenza, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler in shady conditions (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler in shady conditions (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of an immature Eurasian Reed Warbler (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: May - Aug

Eggs: 3 - 5

Incubation period: 10 - 11 days

Fledging age: 12 - 13 days

The length of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude. Two broods can be raised in a particularly successful season. In case of brood failure, up to 4 attempts can be made.

Nest

Lateral/ventral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler carrying nest material (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Raia river, Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2020]

Eggs

Size: 18 x 14 mm

Colour: Light-grey, with copious olive-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary

Eurasian Reed Warblers can be observed outside reeds when visiting other thickets, such as e.g. bramble vines.

Lateral view of a Eurasian Reed Warbler foraging for prey in a bramble thicket (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]

Food, Diet

Eurasian Reed Warbler with its prey, an insect (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

eurwarb_jp_20190426.m4a

scirpaceus (Portugal)

Territorial calls

© JP

More Eurasian Reed Warbler sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.