Common grasshopper warbler

The common grasshopper warbler or just grasshopper warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and the western Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering across northern tropical Africa just south of the Sahara, and also locally in India.

Distribution

Region

Europe and Western Palearctic

Typical Environment

Breeds across much of temperate Europe and into the western Palearctic in areas with dense, low vegetation. Prefers rough grassland, damp meadows, reedbed margins, young plantations, hedgerows, and scrubby edges. In winter it migrates to northern tropical Africa just south of the Sahara and occurs locally in the Indian subcontinent. Wintering habitats include rank grass, scrub, marsh edges, and lightly wooded savannas where cover is abundant.

Altitude Range

0–1500 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size12–13.5 cm

Wing Span15–19 cm

Male Weight0.013 kg

Female Weight0.012 kg

Life Expectancy4 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Named for its insect-like reeling song that resembles a grasshopper’s trill, it can sing for minutes without pause. This elusive warbler keeps low in dense vegetation and is often detected by sound rather than sight. Its song is famously ventriloquial, making it hard to pinpoint in the field.

Gallery

Grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia)

Egg, Collection Museum Wiesbaden, Germany

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and secretive

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, low and fluttering over cover

Social Behavior

Generally solitary and strongly territorial in the breeding season, with males singing from concealed perches at dusk and dawn. Nests are low to the ground in dense vegetation; the female primarily incubates while both parents feed the young. Outside breeding, it remains elusive and keeps to thick cover.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

A continuous, high-pitched reeling trill reminiscent of a grasshopper, often delivered for long periods. The sound is ventriloquial and can be difficult to localize, typically heard at dawn, dusk, and sometimes at night.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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