Sardinian Warbler

Curruca melanocephala

Widespread across southern Europe and North Africa, Sardinian warblers are known for their chattering, fast-paced song, commonly heard throughout Mediterranean areas.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Sardinian Warbler is a small, active bird with distinct sexual dimorphism. Males feature a striking black cap and throat contrasting with slate-grey upperparts and white underparts. Their red eye-ring stands out against the dark plumage.

Outside of the breeding season, males become duller, with the upperparts an olive-grey and the black head becoming less rich in colour.

Females are more subdued, with brown-grey upperparts and a pale throat. Both sexes have dark tails with white outer edges, visible in flight. Juveniles resemble females but with duller overall colouration.

Size

Length

13cm to 14cm

Wingspan

15cm to 18cm

Weight

10g to 15g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Grey Black

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Brown

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Sardinian Warbler can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Sardinian Warbler can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Sardinian Warbler can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Sardinian Warbler can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Sardinian Warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

The Sardinian Warbler is primarily found in Mediterranean regions, including southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. It thrives in maquis scrubland, garrigue, and other dense, low vegetation typical of Mediterranean climates.

While mainly sedentary, some populations undertake short-distance migrations. In recent years, occasional sightings have been reported in southern England, possibly due to climate change expanding their range northward.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,500 meters

Climate zones

Mediterranean, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Sardinian 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