Melodious warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Melodious warbler |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hippolais
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| Species: |
polyglotta
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| Distribution of Melodious Warbler Summer resident (Breeding) Winter visitor | |
The melodious warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) is a small songbird. It belongs to a group of birds called tree warblers. These birds live in southwest Europe and northwest Africa.
Melodious warblers are migratory. This means they fly long distances. They spend their summers breeding in Europe and Africa. Then, they fly south to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. You can often find them in open woodlands with bushes. They build their nests in trees or bushes. Female warblers lay three to five eggs. This bird is quite common. Its conservation status is "least concern", meaning it is not in danger.
What's in a Name?
The name Hippolais comes from an old Greek word, hupolais. This word was used for a small bird. It might sound like the bird's call. Or it could mean "under a stone."
The second part of its name, polyglotta, is also from Ancient Greek. Polus means "many" and glossa means "tongue." So, polyglotta means "harmonious" or "many-tongued." This fits because of its lovely song!
Appearance and Song
The melodious warbler is a medium-sized bird. It is about 12 to 13 centimeters (around 5 inches) long. It looks a bit like another bird, the icterine warbler.
Adult melodious warblers have plain brown backs and wings. Their undersides are yellowish. Their beaks are strong and pointed. Their legs are brown. Male and female warblers look the same. Young birds have lighter yellow bellies.
This bird is known for its pleasant, babbling song. It sounds smooth and goes on for a while. It doesn't usually copy other bird sounds. Other calls include a rattling sound, a quiet "tuk," and a chattering "chret-chet."
Where They Live
The melodious warbler is a bird that travels a lot. It breeds in Western Europe and North Africa. Then, it flies to West Africa, south of the Sahara Desert, for the winter.
You can find them breeding from Spain and Portugal all the way east to Germany and Italy. In North Africa, they live in places like Morocco and Algeria. They like bushy woodlands, forest edges, and thickets. You might also spot them near rivers, in orchards, or even in gardens.
Diet and Nesting
Like most warblers, the melodious warbler mainly eats insects. But they will also eat other small food items. This includes berries.
When it's time to build a nest, they use fine grasses and soft twigs. They also use flakes of bark and lichen. Inside, the female lays three to five eggs.
Images for kids
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Eggs of the Melodious Warbler
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Melodious warbler near Ouarzazate, Morocco
