MARSH WARBLER (Acrocephalus palustris)

FAMILY: ACROCEPHALIDAE (Old World Warblers)

This incredibly rare summer visitor produces a beautiful song that only a few of us are lucky enough to have heard. A number pass through the UK with a decreasing number staying to breed before flying back to south-east Africa for the winter months. They prefer scrubby, grassland and reedbed habitats but are only seen along the eastern coast of the UK with no individuals in Wales or the island of Ireland. This scarce bird has been on the red-list since 1996 and the populations continue to decline.

Discover our Promises

Alert Status:

Red

Estimated number of breeding pairs: 8

Listen to marsh warbler song:

Identification

This warbler can be difficult to distinguish from reed warblers. Marsh warbler adults have green/brown upperparts with black tips to the wing feathers. The head and cheeks are the same colour as the back with an almost yellow eye stripe sometimes visible. Their underparts are a lighter buff colour with an almost white throat. Their song can be hard to distinguish due to the males' impressive mimicry ability.

Average Length: 13 -15 cm

Average Lifespan: 2 Years

Average Wingspan: 18 - 21 cm

ADULT
ADULT
EGGS IN NEST
BACK to a-z

Marsh warbler diet

Their diet is nearly exclusively insects, but they occasionally eat berries in the autumn. They usually pick insects off vegetation but can be seen taking insects in the air or on the ground. You are unlikely to see them at garden feeders due to the low population.

Marsh warbler breeding and nesting information

Breeding begins in the second half of May with the building of a deep, cylindrical cup-shaped nest out of stems, grasses and other plants, supported by plant stems, usually less than 1m of the ground. 3-6 glossy pale blue eggs are laid and incubated by both the male and female for around 2 weeks. After hatching both parents feed the chicks for another 10-11 days. Their breeding season ends in June which means they only produce one brood per season.

Threats to marsh warblers

The reasons for the steep declines in this species are not well understood, however historical disturbance by bird watchers and egg collectors likely had a significant effect on the already small population. The loss and fragmentation of suitable habitat is one of the reasons this species has become so scarce. Furthermore, climate change is thought to have driven declines in this population by causing drought and food shortages in their over-wintering grounds. The small population in the UK are susceptible to chance events, such as extreme weather, that occur in their breeding grounds or during migration. Furthermore, the size of the population means they will struggle to recover, due to decreased immigration, even with conservation efforts. The small population makes scientific study in the UK very difficult.

How you can help

Reporting sightings of this bird, especially during the breeding season.

Petitioning local areas to protect grassland and reedbed habitats.

Do not disturb this bird if you are trying to catch a glimpse.

Fascinating Fact

Marsh warblers are expert mimics and was the first bird that was found to mimic other birds from both their summer and winter grounds.
Download Fact Sheet
BACK TO A-Z
Discover our Promises

References

BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Acrocephalus palustris. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/marsh-warbler-acrocephalus-palustris. Accessed:11/09/2023.

Both, C., Van Turnhout, C. A. M., Bijlsma, R. G., Siepel, H., Van Strien, A. J., & Foppen, R. P. B. (2010). Avian population consequences of climate change are most severe for long-distance migrants in seasonal habitats. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277(1685), 1259–1266. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSPB.2009.1525

British Trust for Ornithology (2023) Marsh warbler, BTO. Available at: https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/marsh-warbler (Accessed: 11 September 2023).  

RSPB (2023) Marsh warbler bird facts: Acrocephalus palustris, The RSPB. Available at: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/marsh-warbler/. Accessed:11/09/2023.

Woodward,I., Aebischer, N., Burnell, D., Eaton, M., Frost, T., Hall, C., Stroud, D.A.& Noble, D. (2020). Population estimates of birds in Great Britain and theUnited Kingdom. British Birds. 113: 69–104. https://britishbirds.co.uk

mag glass

SONGBIRDS A - Z

GO TO LIBRARY

HOW YOU CAN HELP