Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Genus · Leaf Warblers Family · Leaf Warblers
Observation tips Difficulty: HARD
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Canopy foliageDense foliage

Look for a bright yellow throat and a pure white belly. Listen for the 'spinning coin' trill in high forest canopies.

Wood Warbler
Stats
Wingspan19–24 cm
Weight7–12 g
Length11–13 cm
Lifespan wild2–6 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeDomed nest
Clutch size5–7 eggs
Incubation12–14 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

🦗Insects
🕷️Spiders

Habitat

🌳 Forest deciduous🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

Some male Wood Warblers mate with a second female while the first is still incubating her eggs, resulting in two nests being active at the same time.

About

The largest and most colorful European leaf-warbler. It prefers to live in mature broadleaved forests like beech and oak. It is a summer visitor that arrives in May. It has a bright lemon-yellow throat and breast. This contrasts with a pure white belly and a vivid green back.

Behaviour

Wood Warblers spend most of their time feeding high in the tree canopy, where they search leaves for insects. During the breeding season, the male performs a song-flight between trees, vibrating its wings as it moves. Despite living in the canopy, they build their domed nests on the ground, hidden among grasses and leaf litter.

Similar species

Willow Warbler
🐦
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilus
Common Chiffchaff
🐦
Common Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybita
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