Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Introduction

Europe's largest warbler is a scarce visitor to our shores, most records falling during May and June.

Spring individuals are often first encountered because of their loud and strident song.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

32.3g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

1.8k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

% expansion

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Northumberland, 1847

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Great Reed Warbler is an annual vagrant to the UK (approximately five records of Great Reed Warbler per year [Bacon et al. 2024]), but is considered to be a potential breeder – individuals have been observed holding territories annually for the past 30 years, but as yet, there have been no pairs or confirmed breeding records [Eaton & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2024].

Distribution

Open Close

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

0.2%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Breeding Distribution for Great Reed Warbler

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

Open Close

This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

Open Close

Great Reed Warbler is a rare passage migrant, typically encountered in late spring when males are detected by their loud song.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Great Reed Warbler movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Great Reed Warbler, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Great Reed Warbler

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Acrocephalidae
Scientific name: Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: QW
BTO 5-letter code: GRRWA
Euring code number: 12530

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: balquer
Czech: rákosník velký
Danish: Drosselrørsanger
Dutch: Grote Karekiet
Estonian: rästas-roolind
Finnish: rastaskerttunen
French: Rousserolle turdoïde

German: Drosselrohrsänger
Hungarian: nádirigó
Icelandic: Reyrsöngvari
Irish: Mórcheolaire Giolcaí
Italian: Cannareccione
Latvian: niedru strazds
Lithuanian: didžioji krakšle
Norwegian: Trostesanger

Polish: trzciniak (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: rouxinol-grande-dos-caniços
Slovak: trsteniarik velký
Slovenian: rakar
Spanish: Carricero tordal
Swedish: trastsångare
Welsh: Telor Mawr y Cyrs

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species