Cetti's Warbler

Cettia cetti

This lively songster fills wetlands with its explosive call, often heard but rarely seen due to its secretive nature.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Cetti's Warbler is a small, compact bird with a rounded head and short, broad wings. Its plumage is predominantly warm brown above and paler buff-grey below, with a distinctive long, rounded tail often held cocked.

Both sexes look alike, and the only methods of distinguishing between the sexes are by observing their behaviour and listening to their song. The bill is dark grey, with pale pink visible on the base of the lower mandible. Legs are a pinkish brown.

Juveniles resemble adults but may appear slightly more rufous. The bird lacks striking or distinctive markings, contributing to its secretive nature.

Size

Length

13cm to 14cm

Wingspan

15cm to 18cm

Weight

13g to 17g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Buff Grey

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Cetti's Warbler can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Cetti's Warbler can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Cetti's Warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Cetti's Warblers inhabit dense, damp vegetation near water bodies, including reedbeds, willow scrub, and overgrown ditches. They are found across southern and central Europe and parts of North Africa and extend eastward into Central Asia.

In the UK, they have expanded their range northward since the 1970s, benefiting from milder winters. They are now established breeders in southern and eastern England, with some birds pushing further north and west.

UK spots where sightings have been regularly reported include Radipole Lake and Lodmoor in Dorset, Exminster Marshes in Devon, Marazion Marsh in Cornwall, and Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk. The species is rarely found inland, and reports north of The Wash and Morecambe Bay are unusual.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,450 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Cetti's 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