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Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia   [Boddaert, 1783]
Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
BTO Codes: GH , GRAWA EURING No: 12360
Number in Britain: 11 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: RED
European: Not a species of concern
Global: Least Concern
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Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: naevia recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
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Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 17 cm Weight: M/F: 14 g    
Scientific name from: L.: Locustella=little grasshopper and L.: naevius=spotted
World Distribution: BREEDS: Eurasia, WINTERS: n Africa to India
Habitat: Marsh, moor, open woodland
Diet: mainly insects, hunts restlessly through vegetation
TitBit: The distinctive sound of this bird has been variously likened, the sound made by insects, mill wheels, spinning wheels and fishing reels, reflecting technological progress more than a change in the bird's song  
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Population and Distribution
Population Trend: Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends: No regional trends available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Help with the New Atlas)   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 11 thousand pairs in 1988-91     Note: Best estimate
    First Record: 1678
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    Most frequent in: Reedbed
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival: 13 Apr
European Population Size:
    Summer: 340 to 700 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack
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Breeding and Survival
Egg Size: 18 x 14 mm Egg Weight: 1.7 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 6
Clutch Size: 5 - 6 eggs 5.55 ± 0.85 (3 - 7) N = 119
Incubation: 14 days 14.07 ± 0.59 (13 - 16) N = 119 by the: Male + Female
Fledging: 12 - 13 days 11.77 ± 0.93 (10 - 13) N = 183 as: Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid: 21 May (6 May - 7 Jul)
Number of Broods: 2
Trends in Breeding Productivity

Number Ringed: 883
Adult Survival: No data Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: 1 year Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 5yr0m
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Biometrics
Ring Size: A
Wing Length Adult: 63.8 ± 1.7 Range 61 - 67 mm, N =790
Juvenile: 64.2 ± 1.6 62 - 67 mm, N =2655
Male: 64.6 ± 1.6 62 - 67 mm, N =221
Female: 63.3 ± 1.6 61 - 66 mm, N =95
Weight Adult: 13.26 ± 1.13 Range 11.50 - 15.20 g , N =725
Juvenile: 13.08 ± 1.09 11.50 - 15.00 g , N =2601
Male: 13.05 ± 0.93 11.70 - 14.70 g , N =193
Female: 13.56 ± 1.46 . 11.50 - 16.20 g , N =85
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
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Other Names
Common Grasshopper Warbler
Gaelic: Ceileiriche-leumnach Welsh: Troellwr Bach
Danish: Græshoppesanger Dutch: Sprinkhaanzanger
Finnish: Pensassirkkalintu French: Locustelle tachetée
German: Feldschwirl Hungarian: Réti tücsökmadár
Icelandic: Engisöngvari Irish: Ceolaire Casarnaí
Italian: Forapaglie macchiettato Norwegian: Gresshoppesanger
Polish: Swierszczak zwyczajny Portuguese: Felosa-malhada
Spanish: Buscarla pintoja Swedish: Gräshoppsångare
Local Names: Reeler
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For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
No books written recently
See Also:
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
Selected scientific papers published 1980-2005
Find more papers on Google Scholar
Find more papers on Scirus

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Email: birdfacts@bto.org

These data should be cited as:
Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)

 

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