Common Reed-warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

With its melodious warble echoing through wetlands worldwide, this small songbird is a master of camouflage in dense reeds.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Common Reed-warbler is a small, slender bird with uniform warm brown upperparts and pale buff underparts. It has a long, pointed brownish-grey bill, a faint pale eyebrow, and a rounded head profile.

There is little difference between males and females. Their legs are dark grey, which helps to distinguish them from the similar Marsh Warbler, which has flesh-coloured legs.

Juveniles are similar to adults but may appear slightly more rufous on the upperparts.

Size

Length

12.5cm to 14cm

Wingspan

17cm to 21cm

Weight

10g to 15g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Buff White

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Brown Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Common Reed-warbler can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Common Reed-warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Common Reed-warblers are found across Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa. They inhabit dense reed beds, marshes, and other wetland areas with tall vegetation near water bodies.

During the breeding season, they are widespread in Europe, including the UK. In winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa, with some populations travelling as far as South Africa.

Any reedbed environment, even those with just a few simple strands of reeds and rushes, attracts reed warblers in spring and summer, and they can be found in the largest concentrations across southern England, particularly East Anglia and along the south coast. In recent years, breeding has spread to parts of Scotland.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,400 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Reed-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