Appearance:

Very similar to Balearic Warbler but breeding range does not overlap. Also easily confused with sympatric Dartford Warbler due to similar build with long tail, high crown, short wings and spiky bill. Told from latter by all over lead-grey plumage, lacking vinous underparts. Female similar to male but lacks dark lore and throat is paler . Immature birds are very similar to immature Dartford Warbler and are best identified by call, but have less brown back, paler throat and dirtier and greyer underparts.

Sound:

Song hurried and similar to both Sardinian, Dartford and Spectacled Warbler, but is softer with more tinny timbre. Interwoven soft rolling "trrrrtrrr" usually become more prominent towards the end of each phrase which often is concluded by 3-4 clear whistling "wit". Alarm call a short, Stonechat-like and grating "treck", very different from both Balearic and Dartford Warbler.

Alarm call and song:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-photo:Wouter Van Gasse, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Wouter Van Gasse, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Kasper Hendriks, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Roland Wantia, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

In all plumages recognized by its long tail, call, and choice of habitat (reeds). Male unmistakable, with bluish grey head, yellow bill and black drooping moustache. Females and juveniles mostly plain, yellow-brown with whitish underparts and no moustache. Young females with dark bill, young males with yellow bill and black lore. Juveniles with black patch on back and black outer tail feathers. Flight whirring and undulated. Sometimes fans tail in flight with twisting motions.

Sound:

More often heard than seen. Usually identified by contact call; a ringing, explosive "tschin" with a characteristic "dirty" timbre. Also a hard and very short "pit", often mixed with the previous. Song a primitive, 3-syllable phrase, consisting of contact call-like sounds.

Contact call:

Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:sussexbirder, Licence,Link.