Common Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
They are a primary host for the Common Cuckoo, which mimics the appearance of Reed Warbler eggs to trick them into raising a giant parasitic chick.
- Scientific name
- Acrocephalus scirpaceus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Acrocephalidae › Acrocephalus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- wetland
- Habitat
- Dense reed beds (Phragmites) located along rivers, lakes, and marshes.
- Diet
- Primarily insectivorous, feeding on flies, beetles, and spiders; occasionally consumes small berries during autumn migration.
- Range
- Europe, Western Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa
- Size
- Length: 13 cm; Wingspan: 17-21 cm; Weight: 10-15 g.
- Lifespan
- Typically 2-3 years, with a recorded maximum of 12 years.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Wetland drainage, habitat fragmentation, and climate-induced shifts in migration timing.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and shy. Maintain a respectful distance from reed beds during nesting season (April-July) to avoid disturbing fragile nests. If you find a chick on the ground, leave it alone as parents are likely nearby; if visibly injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.
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.
Photo: Alan Shearman, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/30dfd74d-6548-4bc0-bf00-56e330c0c3bb.md