- Phylloscopus trochilus
Identification
11-12.5cm
- Greyish brown-green back,
- Pale underparts, tinged yellow on throat and breast
- Whitish supercillium
- Thin brown bill
- Brownish-pink or light brown legs
Juvenile and 1st Winter: much yellower supercillium and underparts
Confusion Species
See this discussion thread for differences between Common Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.
Distribution
Widespread and abundant in the northern half of the Region.
Breeds throughout the British Isles, Scandinavia and northern Russia south to central and south-east France, Switzerland and Austria, northern parts of Hungary and Romania and to about 50°N in Ukraine and Russia.
Leaves breeding areas in August-September, passage continuing until October, and winters in sub-Saharan Africa, returning mainly in April. Abundant on passage over most of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Vagrants recorded on Iceland, the Azores and Cape Verde Islands, and in Alaska.
Taxonomy
Subspecies: Nominate trochilus occurs over much of western Europe
- acredula in northern Scandinavia and Europe from Poland eastwards, very similar but duller and paler below with much less yellow on underparts of juvenile.
- Eastern race yakutensis drabber still, brown above and whitish below, occurs as a migrant in Region including Britain but other races can appear very similar.
Habitat
Open deciduous woodland, bushy areas, parks and gardens. Also in mixed forest and young conifer plantations, hedgerows and shelterbelts. On passage occurs in all types of habitat with trees and bushes.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes small insects and spiders and fruit and berries.
Breeding
The domed nest has a side entrance and is formed from grass, rotten wood, moss and roots, lined with feathers. It is placed on the ground amongst shrubs or long grass. The clutch consists of 3-9 smooth, glossy white eggs, speckled reddish-brown. The female incubates for around 13 days. Both adults feed the young, which fledge after about 13-16 days.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Phylloscopus trochilus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- British Garden Birds
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Willow Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Willow_Warbler
External Links
