Photo: Ron Knight / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is a member of the Acrocephalidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 12.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Acrocephalidae Reed Warblers & Allies
- Genus Acrocephalus
- Species scirpaceus
Where it lives
Europe to central Asia, Arabian Pen., northern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acrocephalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Reed Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Reed Warbler is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) belongs to the Acrocephalidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF Europe to c Asia, Arabian Pen., n Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.3 g, with a wing length of about 6.7 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 15.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Reed Warbler?
The Common Reed Warbler is a very small bird that weighs around 12.3 g.
Where does the Common Reed Warbler live?
The Common Reed Warbler is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF Europe to c Asia, Arabian Pen., n Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Reed Warbler belong to?
The Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) belongs to the Acrocephalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Reed Warbler eat?
The Common Reed Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Common Reed Warbler migrate?
The Common Reed Warbler is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Reed Warbler endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Reed Warbler make?
1 real field recording of the Common Reed Warbler — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Reed Warbler's range?
The Common Reed Warbler has a mapped global range of about 15.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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