Wood warbler

Look for the wood warbler singing from the canopy of oak woodlands in the north and west of the UK. Green above, it has a distinctive, bright yellow throat and eyestripe.

Species information

Statistics

Length: 12cm
Wingspan: 22cm
Weight: 10g
Average lifespan: up to 5 years

Conservation status

Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021). Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

When to see

April to August

About

The wood warbler is a small warbler of oak woodland in the north and west of the UK, particularly upland areas. It sings from high up in the canopy, but builds its nest in low scrub, or even on the ground in hollows. Like other warblers, wood warblers are insectivorous.

How to identify

The wood warbler is green above and bright white below, with a yellow throat and yellow eyebrow stripe. It is larger than the similar willow warbler and chiffchaff.

The best way to find a wood warbler is to listen for its song. The main song is a sweet series of repeated notes that speed up towards the end, often likened to the sound of a spinning coin. Occasionally they'll switch to a series of whistled 'pyu pyu pyu' notes.

Distribution

A summer visitor mainly to the north and west of the UK.

Habitats

Woodland

Did you know?

The wood warbler is one of a group of summer visitors; together with pied flycatcher and redstart, they are characteristic of sessile oak woodland in the west of the UK.