River Warbler

Locustella fluviatilis

Introduction

Records of this rare visitor from eastern Europe peak in September, but the occurrence of several singing males in the summer has led some to speculate it may eventually breed here.

The River Warbler's song often mimics the sounds made by local invertebrates (such as cicadas or bush-crickets), sometimes even mimicking different species during the day and night.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

17g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

417 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

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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

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Fair Isle, 1961

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

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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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

0.07%

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.

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

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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River Warbler is a very rare vagrant, with records in late spring and autumn.

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

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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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.

Biology

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

Survival and Longevity

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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.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for River Warbler

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Locustellidae
Scientific name: Locustella fluviatilis
Authority: Wolf, 1810

BTO 2-letter code: VW
BTO 5-letter code: RIVWA
Euring code number: 12370

Alternate species names

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Catalan: boscaler fluvial
Czech: cvrcilka rícní
Danish: Flodsanger
Dutch: Krekelzanger
Estonian: jõgi-ritsiklind
Finnish: viitasirkkalintu
French: Locustelle fluviatile

German: Schlagschwirl
Hungarian: berki tücsökmadár
Icelandic: Straumsöngvari
Italian: Locustella fluviatile
Latvian: upes kaukis
Lithuanian: upinis žiogelis
Norwegian: Elvesanger

Polish: strumieniówka
Portuguese: cigarrinha-ribeirinha
Slovak: svrciak riecny
Slovenian: recni cvrcalec
Spanish: Buscarla fluvial
Swedish: flodsångare
Welsh: Telor Afon

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

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