Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

This tiny leaf warbler fills European woodlands with its cheerful "chiff-chaff" song, a sure sign that spring has sprung.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Chiffchaff is a small, olive-brown warbler with a pale eye stripe and faint wing bars. Its underparts are typically pale with a yellowish tinge, while the upperparts are olive-green to brown. The bird has short, rounded wings and a slightly forked tail.

Males and females are virtually identical in appearance, with females being slightly smaller on average. Juveniles closely resemble adults but may appear slightly duller and more yellow-tinged overall.

Size

Length

10cm to 12cm

Wingspan

15cm to 21cm

Weight

6g to 10g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Olive Brown

Secondary Colour

White Yellow

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Dark Brown Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Chiffchaff can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Chiffchaff can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Chiffchaff can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Chiffchaff is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Chiffchaffs inhabit many wooded habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests, parks, gardens, and hedgerows. They are widespread across Europe and Asia, with populations extending from Western Europe to Eastern Siberia.

In the UK, Chiffchaffs are common summer visitors and increasingly year-round residents in southern areas. Some populations migrate to the Mediterranean and North Africa for winter, while others have begun overwintering in their breeding grounds, likely due to climate change.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 3,300 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Chiffchaff. 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