River Warbler

Locustella fluviatilis (Wolf, 1810) VW RIVWA 12370
Family: Passeriformes > Locustellidae

River Warbler, Jon Heath

Records of this rare visitor from eastern Europe peak in September, but the occurrence of several singing males in the summer has led some to speculate it may eventually breed here.

The River Warbler's song often mimics the sounds made by local invertebrates (such as cicadas or bush-crickets), sometimes even mimicking different species during the day and night.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the River Warbler

  • Breeding
  • Winter
417 records observations recorded by BTO surveyors
417 records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

River Warbler identification is sometimes difficult.

SONGS AND CALLS

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of River Warbler, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

River Warbler breeding distribution 2008-11
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

SEASONALITY

River Warbler is a very rare vagrant, with records in late spring and autumn.

Weekly occurence of River Warbler from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about River Warbler, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

BIOMETRICS

Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Telor Afon
Catalan: boscaler fluvial
Czech: cvrcilka rícní
Danish: Flodsanger
Dutch: Krekelzanger
Estonian: jõgi-ritsiklind
Finnish: viitasirkkalintu
French: Locustelle fluviatile
German: Schlagschwirl
Hungarian: berki tücsökmadár
Icelandic: Straumsöngvari
Italian: Locustella fluviatile
Latvian: upes kaukis
Lithuanian: upinis žiogelis
Norwegian: Elvesanger
Polish: strumieniówka
Portuguese: cigarrinha-ribeirinha
Slovak: svrciak riecny
Slovenian: recni cvrcalec
Spanish: Buscarla fluvial
Swedish: flodsångare

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