Marsh Warbler

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Damp scrub (very rare summer).
Diet: Insects.
Best time to spot: World-class mimic; almost extinct in UK.

When to look

Scarce or local in the UK. Timing varies by region, so check recent sightings before you travel. Numbers peak in May. See the May birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.

Taller bars mean more birds about. Grey means it is usually absent.

How rare is it?

The Marsh Warbler sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is Red-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the highest level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Blyth's Reed WarblerRare · Coastal scrub (very rare)
• Paddyfield WarblerEpic · Reed scrub (very rare)
• Great Reed WarblerEpic · Reedbeds (very rare)
• Aquatic WarblerEpic · Sedge marsh (rare passage)
• Common Reed WarblerUncommon · Reedbeds (summer)
• Sedge WarblerCommon · Reedbeds

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