Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

This small songbird fills European woodlands with its distinctive trilling song, a sound that echoes through the trees like a spinning coin.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Wood Warbler is a small, slender bird with distinctive colouration. Its upperparts are a bright yellowish-green, contrasting sharply with pure white underparts. A prominent yellow supercilium (eyebrow stripe) and dark eye stripe enhance its facial features.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles appearing slightly duller. During the breeding season, adults may show more vibrant plumage, with males occasionally displaying a slightly brighter yellow throat.

Size

Length

11cm to 12.5cm

Wingspan

20cm to 24cm

Weight

8g to 15g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Green Yellow

Secondary Colour

White Grey

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Wood Warbler can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Wood Warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Wood Warblers breed across much of Europe, from the UK and Scandinavia to western Russia. They prefer mature deciduous woodlands, particularly those dominated by beech and oak trees. In the UK, they are most common in western and northern areas.

These birds are long-distance migrants, wintering in tropical and subtropical forests of West and Central Africa. During migration, they may be spotted in a variety of wooded habitats across Europe and North Africa.

The highest concentrations of Wood Warblers in Britain are found in the oak woodlands of western Wales. Each spring, the Scottish borders and parts of northern England also welcome visiting breeding wood warblers. In Ireland, a small but well-established breeding ground can be found in County Wicklow on the east coast.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

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