Common Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Genus · Leaf Warblers Family · Leaf Warblers
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
BushesCanopy foliageReed beds

Identify by sound! If it sings 'chiff-chaff', has dark legs, and wags its tail, it is a Chiffchaff.

Common Chiffchaff
Stats
Wingspan15–21 cm
Weight6–10 g
Length10–12 cm
Lifespan wild2–7 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeDomed nest
Clutch size4–7 eggs
Incubation13–15 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationMigratory
Social BehaviourSolitary

Diet: Insectivore

🐛Caterpillars
🦗Insects
🌻Seeds
🕷️Spiders

Habitat

🌲 Forest coniferous🌳 Forest deciduous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

The Chiffchaff usually has much darker, nearly black legs. This distinguishes it from the Willow Warbler, which typically has pale or pinkish-brown legs.

About

A tiny, active bird of woodlands, scrub, and gardens. It is one of the most widespread leaf-warblers in Europe. It is a plain olive-grey bird. Visually, it is very difficult to distinguish from the Willow Warbler. It is one of the first migrants to return in spring. Some populations now winter in Western Europe instead of Africa.

Behaviour

Chiffchaffs flit through the canopy and lower scrub to pick insects from leaves. They have a characteristic habit of frequently 'dipping' or wagging their tails downwards. Their song is a repetitive, mechanical 'chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff'.

Similar species

Willow Warbler
🐦
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
Wood Warbler
🐦
Wood Warbler
Phylloscopus sibilatrix
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