Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustris
The Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) is a common reed warbler found in 78 countries, weighing about 12 g. The marsh warbler is an Old World warbler currently classified in the family Acrocephalidae.
About the Marsh Warbler
The marsh warbler is an Old World warbler currently classified in the family Acrocephalidae. It breeds in temperate Europe and the western Palearctic and winters mainly in southeast Africa. It is notable for incorporating striking imitations of a wide variety of other birds into its song.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is a medium-sized warbler. It is very similar in appearance to several other acrocephaline warblers, such as the reed warbler which also occurs in wetlands and has a similar breeding range. The male's distinctive song is useful for identification, as no other member of the genus mimics other birds to any significant extent. The marsh warbler also tends to avoid the stands of pure reed which are the reed warbler's favoured habitat. The sexes are alike in appearance. Hybridisation with both reed warbler and Blyth's reed warbler has been occasionally recorded.
What the Marsh Warbler sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, Portugal, Djibouti, Jersey, Algeria, Egypt, Rwanda, Jordan, Turkmenistan.
When to see it
Best months: May, June, July, August, with peak activity in June. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Marsh Warbler?
- This is a medium-sized warbler. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Marsh Warbler?
- The Marsh Warbler is a tiny sized bird weighing about 12 g.
- Where can you see a Marsh Warbler?
- The Marsh Warbler occurs in 78 countries, including Sweden, Belgium, Norway, Luxembourg and France.
- What does a Marsh Warbler sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Marsh Warbler on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Marsh Warbler?
- The Marsh Warbler is most easily confused with the Blyth's Reed Warbler, the Great Reed Warbler and the Australian Reed Warbler.
- Is the Marsh Warbler endangered?
- The Marsh Warbler is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Marsh Warbler for real
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