Wildlife
Reed warblers are expert at gripping on to vertical reed stems whilst looking for insects. Parents home in on the spots on the tongues of their chicks to guide this nutrious food to its destination. There is little to distinguish these plain brown birds from other warblers - even the sexes are almost identical. This doesn't seem to pose a problem for cuckoos, who seem all too able to identify their most common victims. Reed warblers are summer vistors to the UK, breeding in southern and central reedbeds before heading south to spend the winter in Africa.
Scientific name: Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Rank: Species
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Filming reed warblers
Finding warbler nests in dense reeds is like finding needles in a haystack.
Finding warbler nests in dense reeds is like finding needles in a haystack.
Weasel attack
A nest raider attacks the final reed warbler fledgling.
A nest raider attacks the final reed warbler fledgling.
The Reed warbler can be found in a number of locations including: Africa, Asia, Europe, United Kingdom, Wales, Ynys-hir nature reserve. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Reed warbler distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
The Eurasian Reed Warbler, or just Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds across Europe into temperate western Asia. It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
This small passerine bird is a species found almost exclusively in reed beds, usually with some bushes. The 3-5 eggs are laid in a basket nest in reeds. The chicks fledge after 10 or 11 days. This species is usually monogamous.
The Eurasian Reed Warbler is one of the species that are brood parasitised by the Common Cuckoo.
This is a medium-sized warbler, 12.5-14 cm in length. The adult has an unstreaked brown back and buff underparts. The forehead is flattened, and the bill is strong and pointed. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are richer buff below. Like most warblers, it is insectivorous, but will take other small food items including berries.
The song is a slow, chattering jit-jit-jit with typically acrocephaline whistles and mimicry added.
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The Pensthorpe Reed Warbler In 2010 Springwatch followed a panicle of reed warblers who had built their nest in a reed bed on the scrape in Pensthorpe.
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Estuaries
Lakes and ponds
Marsh
Rivers and streams
Swamp
Wetlands
Paternal care
Helpless young
Migration
Camouflage
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Monogamous
Moulting
Egg layer
Visual communication