The willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus ) 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.
It is a bird of open woodlands with trees and ground cover for nesting, including most importantly birch, alder, and willow habitats. The nest is usually built in close contact with the ground, often in low vegetation. Like most Old World warblers (Sylviidae), this small passerine is insectivorous. In northern Europe, it is one of the first warblers to return in the spring, though later than the closely related chiffchaff.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withThe Willow warbler is a small insectivorous songbird. 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. Willow warblers are very similar to the chiffchaffs, 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).
Willow warblers breed throughout Europe and the Palearctic, from Ireland east to the Anadyr River basin in eastern Siberia. They are strongly migratory and almost all of the population winters in sub-Saharan Africa. Willow warblers inhabit open woodlands with trees and ground cover for nesting, including most importantly birch, alder, and willow habitats. They also frequent gardens, orchards, hedges, and pastures.
Willow warblers are diurnal and hunt their prey during the day. When not foraging they are usually seen singly sitting on branches singing. Their song is a simple repetitive descending whistle, while the contact call is a disyllabic 'hoo-eet'.
Willow warblers are carnivores (insectivores). Their diet consists of various small insects and spiders. In autumn they will also eat fruits and berries.
Willow warblers are monogamous and form pairs, however, some males may pair up with more than one female. These birds breed from April to July. They build their nests in close contact with the ground, often in low vegetation. The female lays 4-8 eggs and incubates them alone. The chicks hatch naked and blind and for the first 10-11 days are fed by both parents.
Willow warblers are not threatened at present but they suffer from habitat loss and droughts.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Willow warbler is 413,000,000-647,000,000 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 62,200,000-97,100,000 pairs, which equates to 124,000,000-194,000,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
