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Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus [Hermann, 1804]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Sylviidae
BTO Codes:
RW , REEWA
EURING No:
12510
Number in Britain:
91 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
scirpaceus recorded in Britain (of 3 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
13 cm
Wingspan:
19 cm
Weight:
M/F: 13 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: akros =pointed + kephale =head
and L.: scirpus =a reed + =aceus =resembling
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, Near East & c Asia, WINTERS: tropical Africa
Habitat:
Reedbed, scrub
Diet:
Insects and spiders also small snails, often at middle heights in reeds, rushes
TitBit:
In many birds, eye colour changes with age - in Reed Warblers birds have a charcoal iris in their first year but an olive-brown one as adults; young birds also have spots on their tongues (as many other species do), presumably to help guide feeding parents
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Wider Countryside Report
Regional Trends:
England  
English Regions
Distribution:
Atlas Maps
(Help with the New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
61 to 122 thousand pairs
in 2000
 
First Record:
1676
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Reedbed
Also common in:
Estuaries
And found in:
Along Rivers, Lakes
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
2.6 to 4.5 million pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results:
BirdTrack
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
18 x 14 mm
Egg Weight:
1.8 g (of which 5 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
609
Clutch Size:
4 eggs
3.88 ± 0.69 (2 - 6) N = 3455
Incubation:
12 - 12 days
11.73 ± 0.91 (10 - 14) N = 3453
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
12 - 13 days
11.68 ± 0.76 (10 - 13) N = 3814
as:
Altricial, naked
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
10 Jun (15 May - 21 Jul)
Number of Broods:
1-2
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
24801
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
12yr11m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A
Wing Length
Adult:
65.6 ± 1.8
Range
63 - 69 mm, N =33113
Juvenile:
64.7 ± 1.8
62 - 67 mm, N =33342
Male:
66.4 ± 1.7
64 - 69 mm, N =10905
Female:
64.7 ± 1.6
62 - 67 mm, N =9169
Weight
Adult:
11.52 ± 1.00
Range
10.20 - 13.40 g , N =27827
Juvenile:
11.37 ± 1.55
9.90 - 13.70 g , N =28300
Male:
11.33 ± 0.70
10.30 - 12.50 g , N =8909
Female:
11.76 ± 1.20 .
10.10 - 14.00 g , N =7595
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Eurasian Reed Warbler
Gaelic:
Ceileiriche-cuilc
Welsh:
Telor y Cyrs
Danish:
Rørsanger
Dutch:
Kleine karekiet
Finnish:
Rytikerttunen
French:
Rousserolle effarvatte
German:
Teichrohrsänger
Hungarian:
Cserrego nádiposzáta
Icelandic:
Sefsöngvari
Irish:
Ceolaire Giolcaí
Italian:
Cannaiola
Norwegian:
Rørsanger
Polish:
Trzcinniczek zwyczajny
Portuguese:
Rouxinol-pequeno-dos-caniços
Spanish:
Carricero común
Swedish:
Rörsångare
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Calvert, M. 2005 Reed Warblers at Rostherne Mere English Nature, Peterborough
[598.915 CAL]
Brown, P.E & Davies, M.G. 1949 Reed Warblers Foy Publications, East Molesey, Surrey
[598.915 BRO]
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
BirdFacts home | BTO Home 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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