Savi's Warbler

Locustella luscinioides

This elusive songbird fills wetlands with its distinctive, insect-like trill, often heard but rarely seen among dense reedbeds.

Share this bird:

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Savi's Warbler is a small, unobtrusive bird with uniform brown upperparts and slightly paler underparts. It has a long, rounded tail and a thin, pointed bill, typical of its genus.

Both sexes look alike in colouring and size and have pale brown to pinkish-brown legs, olive-brown irises and a horn-grey bill. Their throat is not streaked, a characteristic that allows them to be told apart from the very similar River Warbler.

Juveniles appear similar to adults but with a slightly warmer brown plumage. There are no significant seasonal plumage changes in this species.

Size

Length

13cm to 14cm

Wingspan

18cm to 20cm

Weight

12g to 16g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

Buff

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Savi's Warbler is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

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

Wetland

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

Coastal

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

Urban

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

Farmland

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

Grassland

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

Desert

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

Tundra

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

Rainforest

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

Mountain

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

Savanna

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

Distribution

Savi's Warblers inhabit dense reedbeds, sedge beds, and other wetland vegetation across Europe and western Asia. They prefer areas with standing water and extensive reed growth.

In the UK, they are rare breeding birds (around five pairs per year), found mainly in eastern England, in Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk. During migration, they can be observed more widely across Europe, with wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

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