Unlocking the secrets of Warblers: A guide to identification and habitats of European Warblers

With spring well & truly here, there are one family of birds that arrive here in the Europe and the UK that fill our scrubland, hedgerows but also the reedbeds with their beautiful songs which is of course the Warblers. But when they do show themselves, it can be difficult but also easy to misidentify these birds. The aim of this article will be to help distinguish between the commoner species.

For each species there will be a photo, link to Xeno Canto which is a website with 1000s of bird recordings where you can hear the song & calls for each species. At the end there will be a table with what habitats you expect to find each species.

Chiffchaff

In Europe and the UK, the first warbler you’ll likely hear from March onwards is the Chiffchaff. Where the names comes from the song of this bird, giving a lovely “chiff chaff chiff chaff” call. One of the more recognisable songs but when they aren’t singing then correctly identifying this species can be hard at times. In comparison to the Willow Warbler which is where the confusion can lie, the Chiffchaff has an overall duller appearance but the leg colour is always key. The Chiffchaff will have dark black legs. It is becoming a more regular sighting that Chiffchaffs are over-wintering here in the UK as well

Xeno Canto Chiffchaff – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Phylloscopus-collybita

(© Lothar Lenz- stock.adobe.com)

Willow Warbler

The Willow Warbler, as touched on above is similar to the Chiffchaff but the key differences are an overall brighter green/yellow appearance to that of the Chiffchaff but also yellow/orange legs, do note that the light you’re very these birds can vary which will make getting this identification feature correct every time can be hard. The song of a Willow Warbler can often be described as a soft, repeated whilst interjected with sweet notes.

Xeno Canto Willow Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Phylloscopus-trochilus

(© Rolf Mueller– stock.adobe.com)

Wood Warbler

To finish this trio of similar Warblers it leaves us with the Wood Warbler. In the UK this is the rarest of the three species, being found in mature oak woodlands in upland areas of England, Scotland & Wales. Thankfully this is also the easiest to separate on sight & by song, with a clean white belly along with the vibrant green & yellow plumage this species will often be in the canopy of a woodland where the song will attract you to the location of this species. Very distinctive trill which parachutes as the song continues.  

Xeno Canto Wood Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Phylloscopus-sibilatrix

(© AGAMI photo agency– stock.adobe.com)

Eurasian Blackcap

In Europe and the UK, the Eurasian Blackcap is up there with the Chiffchaff in terms of commonest Warblers. But thankfully the Blackcap is easily recognisable, as the name suggests the males have an obvious black cap compared to the females which have a rusty, brown cap. As for the rest of their plumage, a noticeable grey face & neck with an overall olive appearance on the wings & belly. But it is the song that can easily be misidentified with a Garden Warbler. The song starts of with a short “chatter” followed quickly by a series of flute-like notes. But be aware they have the tendency to occasionally mimic other species with raspy notes.

Xeno Canto Eurasian Blackcap – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Sylvia-atricapilla

(© stock.adobe.com)

Garden Warbler

The Garden Warbler on appearance looks relatively drab but on closer inspection the subtle colours of grey, olive & green can really stand out. With no obvious black or red cap on this warbler it is easy to separate from the Blackcap but the song is where the identification can be difficult, especially as Garden Warblers can be very skulky by keeping deep within vegetation when singing. The song includes very rapid, deep notes but does lack any melody, there isn’t any flute-like notes that a Blackcap does has.

Xeno Canto Garden Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Sylvia-borin

(© AGAMI photo agency – stock.adobe.com)

Common Whitethroat

The Common Whitethroat is a charismatic species which we normally associate with farmland areas & hedgerows, the males are most obvious when they sing from their favourite perches. Rusty tones on the wings & back is contrasted against a clean white throat along with a grey head. The song is very recognisable with it’s short, hoarse call which can seem jerky in rhythm. They also sing this song whilst in flight as well as being perched on a bush.

Xeno Canto Common Whitethroat – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Curruca-communis

(© Mike Lane – stock.adobe.com)

Lesser Whitethroat

The Lesser Whitethroat in appearance looks very similar to a Common Whitethroat, but the Lesser Whitethroat is slightly smaller and appears to have more of a mask with a dark grey head, clean white throat & brown wings. This is a shyer species, rarely sitting out in the open for long & will usually sing from deep inside vegetation. The song appears with a sudden burst of rattles followed by a few scratchy notes which suddenly ends.

Xeno Canto Lesser Whitethroat – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Curruca-curruca

(© stock.adobe.com)

Eurasian Reed Warbler

As is suggested in the name, the Eurasian Reed Warbler is most commonly found in areas of reeds. This bird has an overall olive/brown appearance with very little markings, due to this apparent drab appearance there aren’t too many other species that a Reed Warbler can be confused from as most warblers won’t sing in a reedbed. As for the song, this can appear to be quite a slow-paced series of notes that repeats itself every few seconds, but never speeds up in pace.

Xeno Canto Eurasian Reed Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Acrocephalus-scirpaceus

(© stock.adobe.com)

Sedge Warbler

The Sedge Warbler inhabits a similar area to the Reed Warbler but can also be found in more scrubby areas. Main differences to a Reed Warbler are the obvious white eyestripe, brown head, mottled pattern on the wings along with the cream-coloured breast. With the song, the Sedge Warbler can seem to be very excited giving a series of rapid whistles which is often pieced together with mimicry of other bird song.

Xeno Canto Sedge Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Acrocephalus-schoenobaenus

(© Benny Trapp – stock.adobe.com)

Common Grasshopper Warbler

The Common Grasshopper Warbler is a true iconic in the Warbler family, whilst it’s appearance my seem drab with it’s streaky, brown & cryptic plumage that allows it to hide in vegetation. It’s the song that makes this species stand out and the reason for its name… they sound like a Grasshopper that has a megaphone to it’s mouth. These loud reels make it unmistakable, if your lucky enough they do occasionally “reel” out in the open, allowing for some great views of what is usually a shy species.

Xeno Canto Common Grasshopper Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Locustella-naevia

(© AGAMI Photo Agency – stock.adobe.com)

Cetti’s Warbler

Finally, the Cetti’s Warbler. Unlike the other Warblers in this article, the Cetti’s Warbler is resident here in the UK all year round. This is known for being extremely hard to see, with its rusty toned plumage, grey eyestripe & pale belly. This shy Warbler makes itself known when it sings, in an area of scrub near a water body you’ll suddenly hear an explosion of metallic notes in short succession.

Xeno Canto Cetti’s Warbler – https://xeno-canto.org/species/Cettia-cetti

(© stock.adobe.com)

Below is a table which shows in which habitat where you’re likely to find the Warblers that are included in this article.

 Habitat
ScrublandHedgerowsWoodlandReedbed
Species of WarblerChiffchaffxxx 
Willow Warblerxxx 
Wood Warbler  x 
 Eurasian Blackcapxxx 
Garden Warblerx x 
Whitethroatxx  
Lesser Whitethroatxx  
Eurasian Reed Warbler   x
Sedge Warblerxx x
Common Grasshopper Warblerxx  x
Cetti’s Warblerx  x

Birder by profession

Nature saved me

Noam’s home was not a safe place. As soon as he got eight years old, he daily moved out into the forests in the mountains of Jerusalem after school. Nature meant freedom and safety, which he could not find at home. Out here he played relaxed, lived out his curiosity and just was happy. Nature never let him down as he says: “Nature was the home where I could feel a sense of control. I could be the kid I was.” He learned from the energy and diversity of nature and developed to a stable, balanced person.

At the age of ten years Noam got his first bird guide book and binoculars. Suddenly, all birds around him got names, although he was aware of them since a long time from his daily forays. He got to know members of the “Jerusalem Bird Club” and experienced that he was not alone in the region with his interest. Details in nature now got more and more relevant, he could allocate them and had terms for them. The driving force of all, what Noam learned from the forest, was and is the emotional attachment.

TODAY NOAM WEISS DESCRIBES: “NATURE AND ME, WE NEVER LET EACH OTHER DOWN. IT WAS MY SAFE HOME AND I STARTED TO PROTECT IT.”

Via the stock exchange to bird protection
During his studies at the university nature remained Noam’s safe haven. Nevertheless, contentwise he dedicated himself to another interest and studied Middle East and Islam sciences. With his university degree under his belt he alighted at the stock exchange, where he worked for several years. During those years there was not much time left for birding. First with a long sickness he reflected on this old hobby, and the healing power of nature, which he always had experienced, as well as on his interest in nature conservation.

As a volunteer Noam came to bird ringing and a little later to Eilat. In this international center for bird watching and research he was offered a job in 2005: to start an outreach program in education, community work and tourism. The idea was to inspire new target groups without a strong connection to nature. Since 2014 Noam organizes the center in Eilat as director, occupied by the Israeli BirdLife organization, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).

Bird conservation at the most beautiful place
One of the central objectives of Eilat’s Bird Sanctuary is to protect the habitats of a globally important stopover site for migratory birds. Noam explains: “Our main target is to keep the flyways for birds safe without any hazards.” Eilat is the port and holiday resort at the utter north of the Gulf of Aqaba, one of the two strung-out bays of the Red Sea. Nearly all birds pass by here on their flight between Europe, Asia and Africa. The diversity of species is considerable and makes Eilat to a hot spot for ornithologists.

Noam and his team observe the physical condition of the birds, ring them and monitor their habitats. They mainly involve publicity into nature conservation and convince private persons about the importance of their field pond or garden as a resting space for the migratory birds. Regularly they guide pupil through the field and engage them early in life for the topic. Young volunteers from the region as well as from around the whole word support the work of the center in Eilat. Noam’s job consists in funneling the passion, energy and the competences of the volunteers in a way that all find what their hearts’ desire and that they contribute significantly to the enormous project in Eilat.

Passion and life task
Anyhow, Noam’s big talent is to bring people together and activate them. He does not have to convince anyone. If he explains in his unique manner, always with a twinkle in his eye and never dogged, what it is about, everybody just understands that this is important. His biggest project was to prevent a wind farm in Eilat in the years 2016/2017 together with his companions. Despite all positive effects of wind energy it would have meant a deadly end of the journey of countless birds before they would have reached their summer or winter grounds.

Noam and his colleagues activated important scientist and public opinion makers. They went to every public meeting, even to parliament. But the government wanted the project for its policy of clean energy. And the kibbutz, in which the wind turbines were planned to be built, got the chance of millions of revenues. Nobody of them believed anymore in being able to stop this fatal project, until the intensive communal work done by the bird’s sanctuary team showed its effect. The members of the kibbutz as part of the project decided against its construction.

WHEREVER NOAM APPEARS ON INTERNATIONAL BIRDING EVENTS BIRDERS GATHER AROUND HIM. EVERYBODY APPRECIATES HIM AND KNOWS HIM FROM THE ANNUAL CONSIDERABLE EVENT OF BIRD WATCHERS, CHAMPIONS OF THE FLYWAY IN EILAT.

Jonathan Meyrav has developed the big celebration on migration in 2014 and organizes it since then with the popular bird race that collects donations for bird conservation. Noam is the host, helps with the organization and actively takes part with his Israeli-Palestinian team “The Palestinian Sunbirders”. The entertaining films about the big competition to identify as much birds as possible within 24 hours illustrate what is important for Noam. He rejoices to host so many bird enthusiasts from all over the world and to enjoy the day with his team, lots of fun and a moderate will to win.

Noam calls himself a 24/7 birder, who wears his ZEISS Victory SF binoculars always around his neck even on vacations and in the middle of big city. Luckily, he is married to a biologist, who shows some understanding on this. But his attitude on birding has changed: As a place of refuge Noam relished nature mainly on his own early in life. Later on, as he wanted to give nature something back, he had to engage other people for his commitment in nature conservation. His passion and positive charisma is anyhow so infectious that even inexperienced people understand why bird and nature conservation is relevant. It protects all of us.

MOVIES ABOUT THE EVENT

MORE INFORMATION