Icterine warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Icterine warbler |
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| Range of Icterine Warbler Breeding Passage Non-breeding |
The Icterine warbler (Hippolais icterina) is a small, yellowish-green bird. It belongs to a group of birds called Old World warblers. These birds are known for their beautiful songs.
Icterine warblers live and raise their young in most parts of Europe. They do not live in the southwest of Europe, where a similar bird, the melodious warbler, lives instead. These warblers are migratory birds. This means they fly long distances to different places at different times of the year. They spend their winters in southern Africa, below the Sahara desert.
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What Does the Icterine Warbler Look Like?
The Icterine warbler is a medium-sized warbler. It has a fairly large head and a wide beak. Its wings are long, and its tail is quite short and square-shaped.
Its upper body is a greyish-green color. Its belly and chest are a light yellow. It has pale areas around its eyes and a faint yellowish stripe above its eyes. You might also notice a light ring around its eyes. Another special feature is a pale patch on its folded wings. This patch is made by the light edges of its wing feathers. Its legs are grey, and sometimes they look a bit bluish.
Where Do Icterine Warblers Live?
Icterine warblers prefer open woodlands rather than dense forests. They like the edges of woodlands or clearings. They often choose areas with tall, well-spaced trees and thick bushes underneath.
These birds mostly live in areas with broad-leafed trees. However, you might also find them in places where broad-leafed trees are mixed with conifer trees. They can also be found in small groups of trees, orchards, parks, gardens, and tall hedges with trees.
The Icterine Warbler's Song
The Icterine warbler is known for its fast, chattering song. It often copies the sounds of other bird species. This makes its song very interesting and varied. Its call sounds like "teck" or "tec, tec, tec."
Where Do Icterine Warblers Travel?
The Icterine warbler lives in more places than the other three Hippolais species. Its breeding areas stretch from northern France and Norway. They go across most of northern and eastern Europe. They reach as far south as the northern Balkans mountains and the Crimea mountains. From there, they spread eastwards in a narrow band to the River Ob.
Icterine warblers have recently bred in Scotland. However, they are usually just passing through Great Britain and Ireland during migration. In 2022, an Icterine warbler was seen in Gambell, Alaska. It was also seen there the next year.
These birds are migratory, meaning they move with the seasons. The entire population spends winter in Africa, mainly south of the equator. They start flying south in late July. Most of them migrate in early August. They return to their breeding grounds in late May.
Life and Habits
Icterine warblers mainly eat insects. But in late summer, they will also eat fruit. They look for insects among the leaves of trees and bushes. They catch insects that are on the leaves or flying nearby. They can also catch insects while flying. They are generally a bit less graceful than the smaller, similar-looking Phylloscopus warblers.
Icterine warblers are quite solitary birds. This means they prefer to be alone. They defend their own territory both where they breed and where they spend the winter.
Reproduction and Eggs
Female Icterine warblers lay four to six eggs. They build their nests in a tree or a bush.
Images for kids
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Eggs of Icterine warbler MHNT
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