Aquatic Warbler

Acrocephalus paludicola

This small, streaky songbird navigates vast wetlands across Europe, weaving through reeds and sedges with remarkable agility.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Aquatic Warbler is a small, slender bird with distinctive streaked plumage. Its upperparts are brown with bold black streaks, while the underparts are pale yellow. A prominent pale stripe above the eye contrasts with darker streaks on the crown.

Both sexes look similar, although males have slightly longer wings than females and are marginally heavier. Juveniles appear slightly duller. During the breeding season, adults may show more vibrant yellow tones on their underparts.

Size

Length

12cm to 13cm

Wingspan

17cm to 19cm

Weight

10g to 13g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Yellow

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Aquatic Warbler can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Aquatic Warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Aquatic Warblers inhabit low-lying wetlands, particularly sedge meadows and fen mires. They require specific habitat conditions with a mix of sedges, reeds, and shallow water.

Breeding populations are now largely confined to Eastern Europe, particularly Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland. During migration, they can be spotted in wetlands across Western Europe, including occasional sightings in the UK.

Cornwall and Devon are particularly popular spots, with Marazion Marsh, Cornwall and Radipole Lake, and Lodmoor in Dorset reporting visiting birds each year.

Elevation Range

Up to 653 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Aquatic Warbler. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons