Savi's Warbler
The Savi's Warbler is a species of warbler in the genus Locustella. The common name of this bird recognises the Italian ornithologist Paolo Savi. In 1821, Savi was given specimens of an unstreaked, dark, rufous-brown warbler which was new to science. He published a full description of the bird in 1824 and it became known by the common name of Savi's Warbler.
The genus name Locustella is from Latin and is a diminutive of locusta, meaning "grasshopper". This refers to the song of the Grasshopper Warbler and some others in this genus. The song of the Savi’s Warbler is a monotonous mechanical insect-like reeling with open beak and vibrating throat. The bird usually sings from high on a reed head and the song is often given at dusk. It is similar to the song of other species in the Locustella genus but is generally faster and deeper and bears a strong resemblance to that of Roesel's Bush Cricket. It is very similar to that of the Grasshopper Warbler but slightly lower pitched and less prolonged.
The upperparts of the Savi's Warbler are a uniform dark reddish-brown, sometimes with a slight greenish tinge. It has indistinct buff eye-stripes, dark lores and pale brown ear-coverts. The chin, throat and belly are whitish-buff and the rest of the underparts are sandy brown. In the breeding season, both the upperparts and underparts are slightly paler. The legs are brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are yellower below.
The Savi's Warbler breeds in north Africa, south and east Europe, parts of north Europe and Russia as far east as the River Volga. It winters in Algeria, Morocco, Sudan and Ethiopia. It is known as an occasional summer visitor to east and south east England where it is right on the edge of its range and a few pairs breed sporadically.
The Savi's Warbler can be found in reed beds, marshes and lagoons with reeds, sedges and other marsh vegetation perhaps with scattered sallows or bushes. It climbs stems in order to sing in full view but is otherwise difficult to see as it flits with agility through the stems and tangled growth and is seldom seen on open ground. It occupies similar habitats in its winter range but it may also be found in fens or marshy locations with open water away from reeds.
The breeding season for the Savi's Warbler starts in mid-April in the southern part of its range and at the end of May in north Europe. On returning to its summer range, the Savi’s Warbler flits among the reeds and undergrowth and is rarely seen. The first males to arrive take up occupation of the best territories which are judged by the density of the reeds and sedges. On establishing territories, males will climb to the top of reeds and sing from prominent positions.
As the females arrive, they successively pair with the males with the best territories. Late arrivals have poorer quality territories and their breeding success is impaired, usually because fewer clutches are successfully reared. The nest is built by the female on a little reed platform which is well concealed among dead reeds and clumps of vegetation. It is not usually visible from above. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs and she exclusively incubates them for about 12 days. She also feeds the chicks when they first hatch with the male joining in as they grow. The young fledge in about 12 days and there are normally 2 broods. After breeding the birds tend to disperse to less densely vegetated habitat, moult into their winter plumage and depart on their migration to their winter range.
The Savi’s Warbler is insectivorous and feeds on insects such as flies, beetles, moths and damselflies. Small worms are also believed to be taken.
Date: 19th May 2017
Location: Hortobágy-Halastó, Hortobágy National Park, Hajdú-Bihar county, Hungary
The genus name Locustella is from Latin and is a diminutive of locusta, meaning "grasshopper". This refers to the song of the Grasshopper Warbler and some others in this genus. The song of the Savi’s Warbler is a monotonous mechanical insect-like reeling with open beak and vibrating throat. The bird usually sings from high on a reed head and the song is often given at dusk. It is similar to the song of other species in the Locustella genus but is generally faster and deeper and bears a strong resemblance to that of Roesel's Bush Cricket. It is very similar to that of the Grasshopper Warbler but slightly lower pitched and less prolonged.
The upperparts of the Savi's Warbler are a uniform dark reddish-brown, sometimes with a slight greenish tinge. It has indistinct buff eye-stripes, dark lores and pale brown ear-coverts. The chin, throat and belly are whitish-buff and the rest of the underparts are sandy brown. In the breeding season, both the upperparts and underparts are slightly paler. The legs are brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are yellower below.
The Savi's Warbler breeds in north Africa, south and east Europe, parts of north Europe and Russia as far east as the River Volga. It winters in Algeria, Morocco, Sudan and Ethiopia. It is known as an occasional summer visitor to east and south east England where it is right on the edge of its range and a few pairs breed sporadically.
The Savi's Warbler can be found in reed beds, marshes and lagoons with reeds, sedges and other marsh vegetation perhaps with scattered sallows or bushes. It climbs stems in order to sing in full view but is otherwise difficult to see as it flits with agility through the stems and tangled growth and is seldom seen on open ground. It occupies similar habitats in its winter range but it may also be found in fens or marshy locations with open water away from reeds.
The breeding season for the Savi's Warbler starts in mid-April in the southern part of its range and at the end of May in north Europe. On returning to its summer range, the Savi’s Warbler flits among the reeds and undergrowth and is rarely seen. The first males to arrive take up occupation of the best territories which are judged by the density of the reeds and sedges. On establishing territories, males will climb to the top of reeds and sing from prominent positions.
As the females arrive, they successively pair with the males with the best territories. Late arrivals have poorer quality territories and their breeding success is impaired, usually because fewer clutches are successfully reared. The nest is built by the female on a little reed platform which is well concealed among dead reeds and clumps of vegetation. It is not usually visible from above. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs and she exclusively incubates them for about 12 days. She also feeds the chicks when they first hatch with the male joining in as they grow. The young fledge in about 12 days and there are normally 2 broods. After breeding the birds tend to disperse to less densely vegetated habitat, moult into their winter plumage and depart on their migration to their winter range.
The Savi’s Warbler is insectivorous and feeds on insects such as flies, beetles, moths and damselflies. Small worms are also believed to be taken.
Date: 19th May 2017
Location: Hortobágy-Halastó, Hortobágy National Park, Hajdú-Bihar county, Hungary
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Also in: Hungary
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