Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
The Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) is a common leaf warbler found in 128 countries, weighing about 9 g. The willow warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia.
About the Willow Warbler
The willow warbler is a very common and widespread leaf warbler which breeds throughout northern and temperate Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia. It is strongly migratory, with almost all of the population wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The willow warbler is a typical leaf warbler in appearance, 11–12.5 cm (4.3–4.9 in) long and 7–15 g (0.25–0.53 oz) weight. It is greenish brown above and off-white to yellowish below; the wings are plain greenish-brown with no wingbars. Juveniles are yellower below than adults. It is very similar to the chiffchaff, but non-singing birds can be distinguished from that species by their paler pinkish-yellow legs (dark brown to blackish in chiffchaff), longer paler bill, more elegant shape and longer primary projection (wingtip).
What the Willow Warbler sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, India, Taiwan, Japan, São Tomé & Príncipe, Hong Kong SAR China, Philippines, Australia.
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, July, August, September, with peak activity in August. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Willow Warbler?
- The willow warbler is a typical leaf warbler in appearance, 11–12.5 cm (4.3–4.9 in) long and 7–15 g (0.25–0.53 oz) weight. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Willow Warbler?
- The Willow Warbler is a tiny sized bird weighing about 9 g.
- Where can you see a Willow Warbler?
- The Willow Warbler occurs in 128 countries, including Sweden, Finland, Norway, the United Kingdom and France.
- What does a Willow Warbler sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Willow Warbler on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Willow Warbler?
- The Willow Warbler is most easily confused with the Common Chiffchaff, the Yellow-browed Warbler and the Greenish Warbler.
- Is the Willow Warbler endangered?
- The Willow Warbler is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Willow Warbler for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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