E-mail to a friendE-newsletterContact us
HomeAbout usAdviceBirdsJoinOur workReservesSupport usShopThings to do
  • Overview
  • Awards & recognition
  • Contact us
  • Facts and figures
  • History
  • How we are run
  • Inspiring work
  • Job vacancies
  • Looking to the future
  • Media centre
  • Offices
  • The RSPB view
  • What we do
  • Overview
  • Farming
  • Gardening
  • Green living
  • Helping birds
  • Land management
  • Law
  • Watching birds
  • Overview
  • Aren't birds brilliant!
  • Birds by name
  • Birds by family
  • Bird identifier
  • Features
  • Reserves
  • Webcams
  • Wildlife garden guide
  • Overview
  • Campaigns
  • Corporate membership
  • Credit card
  • Donations
  • Fundraising
  • Gift Aid
  • Shop
  • Green energy
  • Holidays in the UK
  • Join the RSPB
  • Leave a legacy
  • Recycle your mobile phone
  • Share giving
  • Vehicle breakdown cover
  • Overview
  • Join now
  • Why join?
  • Membership as a gift
  • Membership benefits
  • Renewals
  • Other ways to support us
  • Overview
  • Great days out
  • By habitat
  • By name
  • By location
  • Recent sightings
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Around the UK
  • Conservation
  • Document library
  • Farming
  • International
  • Job vacancies
  • News
  • Media centre
  • Policy
  • Reserves
  • Science
  • Teaching
  • Shop homepage
  • Binoculars
  • Bird care
  • Books and DVDs
  • Calendars & diaries
  • Christmas
  • Homeware
  • Toys
  • Virtual gifts
  • Wildlife care
  • Overview
  • For kids
  • Near you
  • Events
  • E-newsletter
  • Fundraising
  • Local groups
  • Reserves
  • Surveys
  • Volunteering
  • Webcams
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Hay meadow grasses Grasshopper warbler perched on grasses near southern marsh orchid Grasshopper warbler singing
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Grasshopper warbler

Red conservation status

Sound files

Listen

Video files

1 video

Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player.

Latin name

Locustella naevia

Family

Warblers and allies (Sylviidae)

Overview

The high, insect-like reeling song of the grasshopper warbler is the best clue to its presence. Even when you hear one it can be difficult to locate it due to the ventriloquial effect of its singing. If seen on migration it moves like a little mouse, creeping through the foliage. Dramatic population declines have made this a Red List species.

Where to see them

Found scattered across the UK in summer, although less common in Scotland. Likes areas of scrub, thick grassland, the edges of reedbeds, new forestry plantations and gravel pits with plenty of scattered bushes.

When to see them

Birds arrive from mid-April and leave again in August and September. Best listened for between April and July when they perch and sing from songposts, mostly at dawn and dusk but often through the night.

What they eat

Insects

Estimated numbers

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-11,750 pairs--

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

  • Videos

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

Print this page

1 illustration

Illustrations
Grasshopper warbler adult

Adult

Similar birds

Savi's warbler (illustration)

Savi's warbler

Sedge warbler (illustration)

Sedge warbler

Help the Grasshopper warbler

We need to take urgent action to secure the future of this species. Become a member today and help us continue our vital conservation work.

About the RSPB

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. More...

Contact us

Visit our Contact us section for telephone numbers, office addresses and more.

Latest news

Ups and downs for UK's waterbirds

The winter arrival of millions of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds is one of our greatest spectacles, but a new report shows the numbers of some birds are ebbing away.

RSPB urges swift action to restore threatened farmland birds

The government has revealed the populations of some of our most-cherished countryside birds fell last year to their lowest levels in the UK and England since 1970.

Poisoning of white-tailed eagle condemned

The RSPB has today condemned the illegal killing of a white-tailed eagle found poisoned on an estate in Tayside.

More news...

Add your voice for nature

As a charity, we rely on the support of members to continue our work protecting birds and wildlife.

Join now from only £2.84/month.

Free e-newsletter

Over 200,000 people enjoy our monthly e-mail newsletter.

Why not sign up?

Contact us
© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
Privacy policy
Last published: 14/06/2008 01:23:34
Show/hide picture credits
Hay meadow grasses - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2000_1783_009)
Grasshopper warbler perched on grasses near southern marsh orchid - Michael W Richards (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2841056_00009_005)
Grasshopper warbler singing - Steve Round
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)