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Grasshopper Warbler · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella naevia

Not yet photographed by the community

Mechanical reeling song; skulking in dense vegetation.

Species Profile

Amber List (formerly Green List; population decline noted)

Lifespan: 2–3 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 12–13 cm, wingspan 13–15 cm; 12–15 g
Habitat: Dense, low vegetation including reed beds, wet grassland, bramble scrub, and young conifer plantations.
UK Distribution: Summer breeding visitor to southern and central England, Wales, and occasionally Scotland; arrives April–May and departs August–September.
Diet: Primarily small insects and their larvae, including grasshoppers, crickets, and spiders; feeds on invertebrates gleaned from vegetation.
Prey: Grasshoppers, crickets, small beetles, flies, spiders, and insect larvae
Predators: Sparrowhawks, kestrels, and corvids such as jays and magpies; eggs and chicks vulnerable to hedgehogs and rodents.
Mating Season: April to July
Breeding: Clutch of 4–6 eggs, incubation period 11–13 days, fledging at 10–12 days; typically one brood per season.
Behaviour: Males produce a distinctive continuous, insect-like reeling song delivered from concealed perches, particularly at dusk and dawn; highly secretive and difficult to observe. Skulks in dense vegetation and rarely ventures into open ground.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 24 June 2026

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