Icterine Warbler

1 day ago

Spotted

The Icterine Warbler is a medium-sized songbird known for its bright yellow underside and greenish-brown upperparts. It possesses a distinctive, bubbling song that incorporates mimicry of other bird calls, making it easily identifiable by ear. This migratory species is a denizen of deciduous woodlands and shrubby areas across Europe and Asia.

Where to spot

Breeds across Northern and Eastern Europe into Western Siberia. Migrates to sub-Saharan Africa for the non-breeding season. Look for it in deciduous forests, parks, gardens, and along forest edges.

How to spot

Listen for its loud, fast, and varied song, which often includes mimicked phrases. Visually, look for its bright yellow belly, pale eye-ring, and relatively long wings. They tend to forage actively in the canopy and mid-story vegetation.

When to spot

Best observed during the breeding season from late spring to mid-summer (May-July) in Europe, when males are actively singing. During autumn migration (August-September) and spring migration (April-May), they can be found in a wider range of habitats.

Where to spot

Breeds across Northern and Eastern Europe into Western Siberia. Migrates to sub-Saharan Africa for the non-breeding season. Look for it in deciduous forests, parks, gardens, and along forest edges.

How to spot

When to spot

Credits: Door Stefan Berndtsson - Härmsångare / Icterine Warbler, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41276489

The Icterine Warbler's song is remarkably complex and often includes imitations of other bird species, woven into a rapid, varied, and melodious pattern. Each individual bird can incorporate calls from dozens of other species into its repertoire.

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