Chiffchaff. Green Warbler Chiffchaff nesting

Warblers (or true warblers) belong to the warbler family and are grouped into a genus of small insectivorous birds. The distribution area of warblers covers the territories of Africa, Asia and Europe, but the greatest biological diversity is observed in the territories of East Asia.

Together with the genus of painted warblers, the genus of true warblers was separated into a separate family only in 2006. On modern stage the genus contains approximately fifty-five species, but it is likely that the classification of several species will be revised.

True warblers primarily live in coniferous and deciduous forests. Fifteen species of warblers are found in Russia.

Most species of warblers build their nests directly on the earth's surface. The nest, as a rule, has the shape of a hut and is equipped with a side exit. Only the female takes part in the construction of the nest. The basis of the warbler's diet consists of small insects, which the birds hunt in the crowns of trees.

Warblers are small birds. In addition, they have a slender physique. Their body length varies from ten to fourteen centimeters.

Different types of warblers are similar in lifestyle. Features of nesting, feeding patterns, etc. from representatives various types warblers actually share many common features. Warblers spend a significant part of their time flitting from one branch to another, that is, they are almost constantly in the crown of trees. An interesting fact is that males spend a lot of time singing during the day. At the same time, they climb to the very tops of trees.

Warblers are brightly colored birds. On the contrary, the color palette of their plumage is very low-contrast. The warblers are painted in almost invisible colors. Moreover, representatives of many species of the genus of true warblers are very similar to each other. The plumage is usually brown, green or yellow. All warblers lack sexual dimorphism in coloration. The color of the plumage does not differ between adults and juveniles. The tail of the warblers has twelve large feathers.

Warblers are inhabitants of deciduous forests. Most species of true warblers live in deciduous and coniferous forests. However, there are species whose representatives can be found at a height where there are no longer trees. Such species have been recorded in Asian territories.

The warbler's diet includes small insects. They form the basis of the diet. Warblers feed on bedbugs, aphids, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, as well as their eggs and larvae. In addition, the diet is varied with spiders and berries. Warblers catch food on the fly or find it on branches, needles and leaves.

Warblers are very active birds. Throughout the day they search the crowns of bushes and trees. Warblers tirelessly search for food; the size of their prey (usually spiders and insects) does not often exceed one centimeter. The warbler's diet includes aphids, whose body length is approximately two grams and their weight is approximately one milligram. Nature has ideally adapted warblers to collect insects in the crowns of trees and endowed them with the necessary energy. It is worth noting the fact that despite the fact that all warblers are very restless (constantly jumping from one branch to another in a hurry, fluttering inside the crown of a bush or tree), the hunting methods of different species are not identical. Some warblers prefer to hunt in the crowns of deciduous trees, others - coniferous trees, and still others are not partial to one thing. Moreover, some warblers hunt deep in the crown, while others feed on the periphery.

Warblers make their nests on the ground. Not always. The nests of these birds can also be located either at an average height on a tree, or directly above the earth's surface (in tall grass, bushes or on stumps). But most species of warblers still build nests directly on the ground. Warbler nests are closed and have a side exit. As a rule, the nest is made in the form of a hut. The female is engaged in its construction, and she incubates the clutch. The clutch consists of three to eight eggs. The eggs have either a pure white surface, or reddish or brownish spots are visible on a white background.

The Warbler Ratchet is a small but beautiful bird. The body length of the warbler varies between twelve and fourteen centimeters. The wing length is approximately seven centimeters. The weight of the warbler barely reaches ten grams. As for beauty, individuals of this species are colored as simply as representatives of other species. The ventral side of the body has a white color, which is somewhat diversified by the yellow coating on the sides and front of the neck. The dorsal side is yellow-green. Above the eye there is a bright yellow eyebrow. It is worth noting that due to the latter feature, the rattling warbler is often called the yellow-browed warbler.

The warbler nests in European territories. The exception is the extreme southern and northern regions of Europe. Warblers are migratory birds - for the winter they go to the northern part of equatorial Africa. early departure. By the end of October, the warblers have already arrived at their wintering grounds. Individuals of this species arrive in Central Europe around the end of April, and the males are the first to appear at the nesting sites. They look for the right areas and begin to sing - their song is abrupt and short. It is worth noting that the song ends with a crackling trill, for which, apparently, this warbler got its name. As a rule, the male begins the song on the branch of one tree, and ends on the branch of another.

A rattle warbler builds a nest on the ground. This is the only option for nest location for individuals of this species. The nest is always located in close proximity to a clearing or forest edge. As is typical for all warblers, only the female takes part in the construction of the nest. The building materials for the nest are large hairs, horsehair, dry stems of forest grasses, etc. The nest of the Warbler is quite similar to the nest of the Willow Warbler. The difference lies in the size (it is smaller in the willow warbler) and the absence of feathers in the litter in the warbler's nest. The clutch usually contains from five to seven eggs (occurs in May or June). The white surface of the eggs is covered with streaks of lilac or violet shades. The female incubates the eggs for thirteen days, after which she feeds the hatchlings for another twelve days. The male helps the female feed the offspring, which is generally typical for all species of warblers. Surprisingly, in one day the parents together make up to four hundred trips to the nest, each time bringing food to the chicks. After the chicks fly out of the nest, they continue to receive food from their parents for a whole week.

The willow warbler is a typical representative of Central Russian forests. This is true. The willow warbler lives in the territories of Europe and Siberia. The exception is the southern European regions, as well as Far North and southeast Siberia. The dorsal side of the willow warbler's body is olive-gray in color, and the main tone of the ventral side is white. The rump is dark. Willow warblers have a slender build. The body length reaches fourteen and a half centimeters. The wing length varies from sixty to seventy-four millimeters. Weight is approximately ten grams.

The willow warbler is a migratory bird. Its wintering places include Arabia, Western Asia and South Africa. Warblers fly to their nesting sites in different ways. If we're talking about about the northern parts of the nesting range, then individuals of this species fly there only with the onset of summer. At the same time, birds cover a distance of ten thousand kilometers in two to three months. If we are talking about the southern regions, then you can see warblers there already in mid-March. Male willow warblers are the first to arrive at the nesting sites. Individuals of this species nest in mountain and lowland forests. At the same time, willow warblers prefer thickets along river banks, forest cannons and clearings, clearings with young undergrowth, deciduous plantings, etc. Inhabitants of the tundra and mountain landscapes settle in bushes. Having found the required place, the male sings songs from dawn to dusk, which consist of melodic, clear, pleasant whistles. The song is smooth and short. A little later, a female flies to the place chosen by the male, and a pair is formed. The willow warbler's nest is built directly on the earth's surface in close proximity to the edge of the forest, clearing or clearing, that is, from a cleared place. The nest is always covered with dry grass stalks on top. It is so well camouflaged that it is almost impossible to detect. The willow warbler's nest has the shape of a ball, is equipped with a side entrance hole, and the willow warbler's tray is lined with feathers. The construction of the nest continues for five to seven days; the female plays a large role in this process, while the male only provides her with food. construction material. The clutch contains from four to eight eggs. Brownish-red specks are clearly visible on the white surface of the eggs.

The willow warbler lays eggs twice a year. Characteristic only for individuals nesting in the southern part of the range. The first clutch occurs in May. The second clutch occurs at the end of June or beginning of July. As for the northern regions of the range, the female hatches chicks only once a year - the only clutch occurs in June. The female incubates the eggs from thirteen to fifteen days, but both parents feed the offspring that are born - this takes from fifteen to eighteen days. After the chicks fly out of the nest, they receive food from their parents for another week. After this time, young willow warblers begin to wander through the forest. Young individuals gather in flocks. As for adults, they are preparing for the second nesting (for those for whom this is typical) - it takes about two weeks to set up a nest in a new area. The flight to wintering grounds of willow warblers begins early. Already from the end of July, individuals of this species fly away from their nesting sites, and already at the end of October all willow warblers arrive at their destination.

The crowns of deciduous trees and shrubs are a feeding area for willow warblers. And the only thing. Warblers carefully examine the leaves and thin branches of trees and bushes in search of prey, which they often peck on the fly. Willow warblers prefer to flutter at the ends of branches rather than seek food in the grass and shrub undergrowth. The diet of willow warblers includes aphids, spiders, caterpillars and pupae of butterflies, small dipterans, small beetles, sawflies, and in the fall the diet of these birds also diversifies with berries.

The Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are similar in appearance. The body length of the chiffchaff varies from twelve to fourteen and a half centimeters, and the wing length ranges from five and a half to six and a half centimeters. Weight varies from eight to nine grams. The Chiffchaff's legs are black (which is how it differs from the Willow Warbler). In addition, individuals of these two species differ significantly in singing.

The distribution area of the Chiffchaff is small. On the contrary, it is very significant. This bird lives almost everywhere where there is shrub or tree vegetation. Thus, the Chiffchaff can be seen in the territory from the Scandinavian Peninsula in the west to the Kolyma River basin in the east. The distribution range of the Chiffchaff in some places even extends beyond the Arctic Circle, and in the south – to the Mediterranean coast. The nesting areas of individuals of this species also include the southern mountainous Central Asian regions, as well as the territories of Asia Minor and Transcaucasia. The nesting areas of these warblers include the southern regions of Asia, North African territories and the territories of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the southern regions of the nesting range. Chiffchaffs leave their wintering grounds already in early March, and begin to fly to their nesting sites in April, which is quite early for warblers. The males arrive first and, having chosen a site, begin to sing. Thanks to the melodic, loud, clear singing, the chiffchaff got its name. After all, chiffchaffs make approximately the following sounds: “shadow-shadow-shadow...”, which is somewhat similar to the sound of slowly falling drops of water. Females arrive at the nesting sites about a week after the males arrive. It is the female who chooses a place for the nest in the area that was chosen by the male. The nest is built no higher than sixty to ninety centimeters above the ground. As a rule, it settles on stumps, in undergrowth bushes, in the thick of spruce undergrowth or directly on the ground. There are always lightened areas near the nest. An exception to the height at which the nest is located may be the following case. The chiffchaff can build a nest at a height of two to four meters (in spruce feet) when the forest is often visited by animals or people. The nest has a hemispherical shape, in its upper part there is a side hole - the entrance. Laying occurs in May. It consists of five to seven eggs. Their white surface is dotted with reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs for thirteen or fourteen days. After the chicks are born, the female spends a lot of time next to them, warming her offspring. Both the female and the male feed the chicks. In one day, they together bring them food on average three hundred to three hundred and fifty times.

The green warbler builds its nest exclusively on moss. This is its peculiarity in relation to other warblers. The moss is held together by pieces of last year's leaves and grass stems. A little wool and horsehair goes into lining the surface of the tray. The green warbler builds its nest in dense grass. It can often be found in nettles. Sometimes it seems to be covered by a fallen tree, bush or overhanging tuft of grass. The clutch of individuals of this species contains five or six eggs. Their surface is pure white, but the shell is so thin that the yolk showing through it gives the surface of the egg a yellowish-pink tint.

The willow warbler is a small, nimble bird that belongs to the songbirds.

Habitat

You can meet the willow warbler from the first days of spring until the autumn storm in almost all corners of Europe.

But the wintering of the little songbird is in the genes. She flies to wait out the cold and frosts in Africa, in regions located south of the Sahara.

Mixed, deciduous forests, parks, areas covered with bushes, gardens and parks are favorite habitats for birds. The willow warbler is most often found on the outskirts of the forest, forest edges, and in bushes.

warbler photo

It avoids dense thickets and is known in almost all regions of Russia, entertaining listeners with a set of whistles that merge into a trill. This is the most tireless singer even in bad weather.

Appearance

Body length 12cm, wing length, wingspan 17 - 22cm. The bird's weight is about 10 grams. The coloring of the small bird is discreet:

the back is plum colored with a grayish tint;
the feathers of the wings and rump have greenish inclusions;
a vaguely defined eyebrow of a light yellow color;
yellow and green spots are scattered throughout all the feathers, the brightest on the crown;
the belly of the willow warbler is light with an olive-gray tint, which extends to the chest and sides;
the coloration of the front side of the neck and upper chest is decorated with longitudinal spots of sulfur-yellow color;
the legs are yellowish with a brown tint;
The beak is dark brown in color and has yellowish edges with a yellow base of the beak.

Lifestyle

As the snow begins to melt, willow warblers arrive. They begin nesting throughout Russia, wherever there are light forests, meadows, bushes, even in the tundra in willow thickets.

Willow warbler soloing photo

During the season, nomadic birds have time to lay eggs, raise offspring and prepare the young for wintering grounds. In early autumn, warblers gather in flocks that quietly leave their nesting sites, flying to South and Equatorial Africa.

Nutrition

The main diet of a small bird consists of small insects: aphids, bugs, mosquitoes, spiders, insect larvae. Do not avoid the willow warbler and plant foods: berries, grass seeds. Mobile, energetic willow warblers fly around nearby bushes and trees in search of food.

warbler photo

There are several types of warblers, each of them has its own way of obtaining food. Some species prefer bushes, others hunt inside the tree crowns, and others search for insects on the periphery of the tree crowns. The willow warbler is a very useful bird. In season she destroys great amount insect pests.

Reproduction

The breeding season is from May to July. Willow warbler nests are always located on the ground. A small depression near a stump or at the base of a bush, thick grass, serves as a place for its creation. The shape of the nest is similar to a small hut, spherical in shape.

There is a entrance to the nest on the side. A tiny nest of a warbler, no more than 80 mm in diameter, is lined with down and feathers inside. Male willow warblers sing very intensely from the moment they arrive until they start building the nest.

warbler spring photo

From the moment construction begins, their singing becomes calmer, which is associated with the protection of the female and the pair’s occupation of the territory. He constantly follows the female with soft singing. The outside nest, built by the female, is well camouflaged with dry grass.

In this structure, white eggs with brown spots are laid, in quantities from 4 to 8 pieces. The female lays eggs in early May. In Russian regions, arriving warblers manage to make one clutch. Two clutches are made by birds that have occupied the southern territories of Russia.

The Chiffchaff is a small, inconspicuous bird that is very difficult to see in the thick of greenery. She announces her presence with a clear and ringing voice, singing in nesting areas already at the end of winter.
Habitat. Breeds in Central and Northern Europe, as well as in Central Asia. Winters in southern Europe, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India.

Habitat.
The Chiffchaff is distributed throughout almost all of Europe, Siberia, as well as in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa. Birds nesting in northern Europe migrate in the fall to the south of the continent, to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and sometimes even fly across the sea to spend the winter in North Africa. Warblers nesting in Asia usually fly to Iran, Iraq and India for the winter. The warbler can be found in all types of forests where tree crowns do not form a dense canopy. In Europe, the warbler most readily settles in coniferous tracts, and in Siberia - both in the coniferous taiga and in deciduous forests.

Species: Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybitus.
Family: Slavaceae.
Order: Passerines.
Class: Birds.
Subphylum: Vertebrates.

Security.
The chiffchaff brings great benefits, exterminating many insect pests. In some countries, for example, in Poland, this bird is protected. You cannot disturb the chiffchaff or look for its nests: it is very shy and similar situations often abandons clutches or chicks.

Did you know?

Some groups of Chiffchaffs spend the winter on the island of Mallorca. On cold days, chilled little birds sometimes fly into houses, seeking refuge from the frost.
If the autumn is warm, chiffchaffs remain in their nesting areas until November or early December. But if frosts and snowfalls suddenly occur at this time, the birds quickly die of hunger, since they cannot find food.
Some species of songbirds have very similar look-alike species, with which they can easily be confused. The chiffchaff's counterpart is the willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus). They are usually distinguished by their singing, and since songbirds communicate by voice, different songs serve as a guarantee of the stability of the species. Despite their great external similarity, willow warblers and chiffchaffs do not interbreed because they cannot find a common language.
Ornithologists were able to establish that chiffchaffs from Central Europe do not respond to the songs of their Spanish relatives. Apparently, this fact foreshadows the emergence of new, closely related species.

Lifestyle.
The chiffchaff returns from its wintering grounds in early March, i.e., a good two weeks before the first insects appear. Having arrived in its native land, the bird immediately announces its presence with clear and melodious singing, similar to the chime of water drops. Her gentle voice sounds from morning to evening in any weather - under the sun and in the rain. The warbler spends almost all its time briskly jumping along the branches of trees and bushes in search of food and accompanying each jump with a swing of its tail. The warbler flies quickly, energetically and confidently using its wings. She sits on the ground very rarely and prefers to feed on the “upper floors.” Carefully examining every leaf and twig, the bird collects caterpillars, butterflies, flies, spiders and mosquitoes. At the end of summer, the warbler includes juicy berries and fruits in its diet; Having stayed until late autumn in nesting places, it is reinforced by insects and their larvae that have taken refuge for the winter. During the nesting season, warblers occupy home areas, and outside the nesting season they are sociable and peaceful. Warblers make migratory flights at night.

Reproduction.
Having arrived from warm regions 2 weeks before the females, the males first occupy home areas. The owner marks the boundaries of his domain by singing loudly, and when an opponent appears, he takes on a menacing appearance and drives him away. To attract a partner, the female sings songs at the top of her voice, standing tall and vigorously flapping her wings. Having noticed the female, the gentleman takes off on a mating flight, showing his chosen one the flight feathers spread out like a fan. If the partners like each other, the marriage can be considered successful. After mating, the male usually stays with his girlfriend and helps her care for the chicks, but sometimes he leaves the family and begins looking for a new partner. The nest is built by the female, choosing for this a secluded place in the thickets low above the ground. The spherical nest of the chiffchaff is woven from dry blades of grass, leaves and moss. A narrow side entrance leads to a tray lined with soft feathers. Having completed the construction, the female lays 4-6 white eggs with reddish-brown spots (one per day) in April-May. If the male remains with his wife, the parents take turns incubating the clutch. After 2 weeks, the chicks hatch and are fed by the mother or both parents. Arriving with a portion of food, the chiffchaff first sits on a branch high above the nest, and, making sure that everything around is calm, slowly slides down, trying not to attract attention to itself. This maneuver helps protect the nest from predators. For the first three weeks, the chicks remain in the nest, and then they fly on their wings and begin to get acquainted with the surroundings. Sometimes the female manages to make a second brood over the summer, which, as a rule, is smaller than the first.

Chiffchaff – Phylloscopus collybitus.
Body length: 10-11 cm.
Wingspan: 15-21 cm.
Weight: 6-9 g.
Number of eggs in a clutch: 4-6.
Incubation period: 13-15 days.
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Food: insects, berries.

Structure.
Wings. Wings with long flight feathers provide speed and maneuverability.
Brows. Clearly defined light “eyebrows” are visible above the eyes.
Eyes. The eyes are dark and round.
Body. The tiny body is covered with plumage painted in camouflage tones.
Beak. The short sharp beak is used to catch insects.
Legs. Thin, unfeathered legs are dark brown in color.
Fingers. Three fingers facing forward and back.

Related species.
The family of warblers includes about 300 species of small birds, the length of their body including tail usually does not exceed 15 cm. Warblers live mainly in Asia, Africa and Europe. Many species exhibit striking external similarities. The inconspicuous plumage of warblers is dominated by various shades of brown, olive and gray. The basis of their diet is insects and juicy fruits. Some species drink flower nectar.

More than 50 species of small songbirds belong to the genus Warbler. Previously, they were classified as members of the warbler family, but then scientists separated the birds into a separate family.

Warblers are found in Eurasia and Africa, and especially large populations live in eastern Asia. These adorable little ones are distinguished from warblers by their long legs, short tail and a thin beak. The predominant colors of the birds' plumage are yellow, brown and green. The belly is usually lighter than the back. In general, all species are very similar to each other and differ only slightly. For example, some warblers have light stripes under their eyes and light feathers on their wings.

Warblers are insectivorous birds. They eat small forest and aquatic insects, their larvae, and spiders. Birds also eat flies, caterpillars, butterflies, and beetles. In the fall, you include berries in your diet, for example, elderberries, raspberries, blueberries, and currants.

The warbler finds food in the crowns of trees, in bushes, near foliage in the air. It absorbs about a third of its weight in insects per day, and before autumn migration even more to make fat reserves for a long flight.

Warblers settled over vast areas of Africa and the entire Eurasian continent. These babies can most often be found in East Asia. For life, warblers choose coniferous and deciduous forests, and only occasionally bushes.

Is this a migratory bird?

Warblers – migratory birds. For the winter, these little ones move from all the expanses of Eurasia, where they usually nest, to the tropical forests of the African continent.

Bird species

The body length of this small bird reaches 11 cm. The cheeks are painted in a characteristic red color. The paws are dark. The bird's top is greenish-gray, its belly is light. Distributed in the countries of central Africa (Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda).

It lives in tropical forests of Africa and is found in countries such as Angola, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania. The species was discovered by the wife of the American ornithologist Boulton, after whom it was named "Laura".

The bird's body length is 11-13 cm, its wingspan is up to 22 cm, its weight is 8-11 g. The species is very similar to the chiffchaff, but differs from it in its singing. The back is olive green, the belly is whitish-yellow. The bird is distinguished by a yellow throat and chest and yellowish stripes above the eyes. The willow warbler is a resident of Europe. It flies to Africa for the winter.

The species is found in coniferous and mixed forests of Asia and Europe, even in the far northern regions. For the winter, it migrates to the Mediterranean countries, South Asia and Central Africa.

The bird is small: body length up to 12 cm, weight 7-8 g, in females - slightly less. During the nesting period, the back of males and females is grayish-brown, with an olive tint in the western subspecies. The belly is whitish, with a yellow tint on the sides and chest. The eyebrows are highlighted with a white stripe. In autumn, the color fades, the sides and breast merge with the rest of the plumage. The Chiffchaff has a sharp and dark beak and dark legs. The bird is distinguished from the willow warbler by its singing, consisting of the iridescent sounds “shadow-ting-tian-ting-ting-tian”.

The body length of the species reaches 12 cm, the wingspan is 18-20 cm. Body weight is from 7 to 9 g. The back is brown, the belly is white. A white eyebrow and yellow undertail are visible. The song consists of a repeated "pu-ee" sound. The light-bellied warbler lives in the west and southwest of Central Europe. Winters in Africa south of the Sahara.

The distribution area of the species is the temperate and taiga zone of Europe. For the winter, the bird migrates to tropical Africa. The body length of the species is 11-13 cm, the wingspan is up to 24 cm. Body weight is up to 13 g. The plumage on the back is green, on the chest it is yellowish-white. The song sounds like a combination of the sounds "sib" or "chuyu" with characteristic cracking sounds.

A resident of East Asia, it reaches a length of 14 cm. The back plumage of the bird is dark brown. The beak is sharp, straight, short. Legs dark in color. On the eyes of the brown warbler there is a dark stripe, above which a light stripe is visible. The eyes are outlined in white. The belly is dirty white, the breast is slightly darker. The sides and undertail are creamy. The tail is slightly rounded. In the song of the brown warbler, a sharp “check” sound is heard.

Body length up to 13 cm, weight 13-14 g. The bird is found in forests in eastern Asia. Painted in brown-olive color.

The bird has a green back and a light belly, a yellow stripe is visible on its head, and light stripes on its wings. The body length of the species is up to 10 cm, weight is about 7 grams. Lives in Southern and Eastern Siberia, Mongolia and China. The species is migratory and winters in Indochina.

Habitat: Eastern Asia. Wingspan up to 16 cm, body length 10 cm. Weight from 4 to 9 g. The plumage on the back is olive green with light stripes. The belly is yellow-white. The beak is brown with a yellow base. Legs are reddish.

The plumage is gray-green with a lighter belly. The bird is distinguished from other species by prominent flight feathers and a light stripe on the wings. Its body length reaches 13 cm. It nests in Russia, Brunei, China, Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Scandinavian countries, Central and South Asia.

Resident of Eurasia. Outwardly similar to the forest warbler, but smaller. The top is olive green, the bottom is grayish-white. A dark stripe with a yellow eyebrow is visible on the eyes. Legs are brown. The birds are about 10 cm in length, with a wingspan of 15 to 20 cm, and weighing about 8 g.

A bird with a body length of 12 cm, weighing about 8 g, with a typical plumage color: green back, light belly. There is a light eyebrow located above the eyes. The species is widespread in Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Laos, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Russia).

Male and female: main differences

Sexual dimorphism is completely absent in all species of warblers. And even the young and adult individuals of this bird do not differ in external characteristics. However, their unique singing helps to distinguish between the species of warbler.

Caring for warblers is easy. Only at first, in a cage, birds may behave restlessly and anxiously; in such cases, the cage is covered with a cloth. These little ones quickly get used to captivity and after a couple of weeks they can be safely released to fly.

Warblers have a peaceful nature and can get along with other species. But it is better not to leave several males together - they can quarrel over the female.

The warblers' cage contains perches, a drinking bowl and a bathing container. You can build a house for a pair of warblers, or leave grass, moss and leaves, from which the birds themselves will build a nest.

In one clutch, the female warbler has up to 7 small light-colored eggs. The female incubates them for two weeks, and feeds the offspring for the same amount of time.

Birds are also unpretentious in food. They are fed insects, mealworms, berries and fruits.

But the warblers will delight their owners all year round with their ringing trills.

Before migrating to warmer climes, warblers completely molt to brown plumage and gain weight.
The lifespan of warblers is up to 12 years.
In Europe, the total number of representatives of this species reaches 40 million pairs.

Warblers singing

Each species of warbler has its own unique song. For example, the melody of the chiffchaff resembles the sound of a drop. The warbler rattle combines a cheerful crackle and a lingering sad whistle in its song. The green warbler sings loudly and brightly with iridescent trills. The song of the Warbler is a melodic whistle.

The warbler is a small and outwardly unremarkable bird that eats insects. It attracts attention not with its bright colors, but with its singing, with beautiful melodic tints, sonorous trills and a pleasant whistle.

Description and subspecies

Warblers belong to the warbler family, the most widespread passerine family. All representatives of the group are distinguished by their small size, dull gray-brown color, and thin beak. They feed on insects and small berries.

It is not surprising that the warbler can easily be confused with a sparrow. It is also not very large (maximum 13 cm in length) and light (weight is 8-10 g). The coloring of these representatives of the passerine family is also similar:

dim plumage of olive tone;
the abdomen, wings and tail are lighter;
yellow or green stripes under the eyes, on the chest and neck;
dark gray legs and beak.

The female and male warbler are very similar, and unless you are an ornithologist, you are unlikely to be able to determine the sex of the bird.

An interesting feature is the fact that before flying to wintering, all individuals, regardless of gender and age, molt and become the same gray-brown color.

After 2-3 months, the color of the feathers again becomes olive or light green.

The warbler family has a large number of subspecies, some of which are considered independent. Here are just a few of them:

ChiffchaffIt is distinguished by its greenish-brown color of feathers and singing, reminiscent of the sound of falling drops. Breeds in Europe and Asia. Does not like dense thickets, prefers to settle in groves and sparse forests with dense undergrowth. Tolerates dry climates well.
Warbler- the most common representative of the warbler family in Russia. It also lives in Europe. Winters in Africa (near the Sahara Desert), Arabia, Asia. Warblers appear at the nesting site at different times. Depending on the climate zone of the region. In the south they can be found already in March, in the north - at the beginning of summer. The singing of this species is smooth and short-lived.
Warbler rattlereceived its name for its peculiar style of singing - short and intermittent, which ends with a trill resembling a crack. During the mating season, while courting a female, the male flies from branch to branch, dancing in front of the female, and singing. This species chooses places for breeding in Europe, and flies to northern Africa for the winter.
Warbler- the smallest of the family (weighs only 4-9 g). Sings, alternating trills with whistles. Breeds in Russia (Siberia, Far East, Baikal region). For the winter it flies to India or Burma. It is noteworthy that this species is practically never found in Europe.

Of course, these are not all subspecies. There are more than 50 of them in total. Each differs in the color of its feathers (slightly) and the manner of singing. There is one common feature - the repertoire of birds is so rich and melodic that it invariably arouses human admiration and gives a good mood.

Range (habitat)

Typical bird habitats are coniferous and deciduous forests:

Europe;
Asia;
Russia;
Mediterranean and African countries (during the winter period).

Some species, if there are no trees nearby, settle in bushes (mainly in Asia), in meadows or forest edges. Warbler nests are practically never found in dense thickets.

Today, 12 species live in Russia:

lightning;
thick-billed;
Indian;
willow warbler;
ratchet;
king;
Chiffchaff;
talent;
light-headed;
brown;
pale-legged;
the green one is the only one worth a nest of moss;

Birds always fly to warm countries for the winter. This usually happens with the onset of the first frost (August, sometimes late November).

Video "Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)"

Character and lifestyle

Warblers, like all members of the passerine family, are very active and curious birds. But such a character trait as caution is not at all familiar to them. Warblers, not feeling danger, allow anyone to approach them. These birds are very playful and agile, their flight is fast and undulating. The speed with which they can fly from tree to tree in pursuit of insects is sometimes simply amazing.

For quite a few hours of daylight, the warbler flies from branch to branch, from tree to tree. And all in order to find food for themselves.

Usually these are small (about 1 cm) insects:

butterflies;
flies and their larvae;
mosquitoes;
spiders;
aphid.

Birds prefer currants, raspberries, blueberries and elderberries among berries. Warblers usually live in pairs, sometimes forming small flocks. Meeting birds separately without a pair is very rare.

Although their instinct for caution is not very developed, warblers hide their nests very well. They are usually built in holes near stumps or stones, camouflaging their homes with dry grass and small stems and pieces of branches. The nest has a round shape with a side entrance. And somewhat vaguely reminiscent of a hut. It is never located at a great height from the ground and is rarely found at medium heights. Within the city, birds settle in niches in stone walls and fences.

In the spring, warblers begin their mating season, accompanied by melodious and prolonged singing. As soon as a pair is formed, the singing stops. The male looks for a place for the nest, improves it and protects it from the encroachment of other rival warblers. But the main work of making the nest ready for childbirth is carried out by the female.

In the first days of the month of May, the female lays eggs (up to 8 in one clutch). In areas with a favorable climate, for example in Europe, warblers hatch chicks twice a season. Chicks require frequent feeding, so both parents search for food.

Chicks in short time They mature - after 14 days they begin to fly out of the nest. After another year, they reach sexual maturity and have offspring themselves. Birds live quite a long time, about 12 years. However, in captivity they live much longer, up to 20 years.

Warblers take a long time to get used to captivity. The birds behave anxiously, feel restless, and rush around the cage. You can calm the birds a little by just covering the cage with a cloth. The adaptation period is individual for each individual. In any case, after some time the bird gets used to the person, calms down, and begins to sing.

According to reviews, the birds tolerate life in captivity quite well and delight humans with their singing. But they say that you need to be very careful about feeding. Otherwise, the birds gain excess weight and stop singing. Suitable food for insectivores can be purchased in specialized stores.