Photo: Lasse Olsson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
River Warbler
Locustella fluviatilis
River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) — 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 River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) is a member of the Locustellidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 16.1 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 Locustellidae Grassbirds & Allies
- Genus Locustella
- Species fluviatilis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Locustellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The River Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The River Warbler is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) belongs to the Locustellidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF c, e Europe and e Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16.1 g, with a wing length of about 7.5 cm and a tail of around 5.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the River Warbler?
The River Warbler is a small bird that weighs around 16.1 g.
Where does the River Warbler live?
The River Warbler is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF c, e Europe and e Africa, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the River Warbler belong to?
The River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) belongs to the Locustellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the River Warbler eat?
The River Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the River Warbler migrate?
The River Warbler is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the River 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 River Warbler make?
1 real field recording of the River 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 River Warbler's range?
The River Warbler has a mapped global range of about 5.2 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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