Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)

Sedge Warbler, Loch of Kinnordy, Angus, Scotland, July 2002 - click for larger image

The Sedge Warbler is one of the most widespread and easiest to see warblers. It is found in summer in most parts of Europe north of the Mediterranean Basin. It breeds in areas where there is low, dense vegetation and is not so closely associated with water and wetlands as other Acrocephalus warblers.

It arrives in Europe around April and leaves in August and September when they migrate to their wintering quarters in Africa south of the Sahara.

It is generally buff below and brown above with a long and distinct buffy supercilium.

Sedge Warbler, Aberlady, East Lothian, Scotland, July 2002 - click for larger image

The crown is dark but has a paler centre as can be seen in the second photo. It also has a warm brown rump which can be partly seen in the third photo. This was taken during a short song-flight between perches on some sea buckthorn. The song is a rapid series of trills and whistles but can include mimicry of other birds' songs.

Food consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates, mainly slow-moving such as caterpillars, which are picked from leaves, twigs and stems.

Sedge Warbler, Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England, May 2005 - click for larger image

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