Radde's warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Radde's warbler |
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| In Thailand | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Phylloscopus
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| Species: |
schwarzi
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| Range of P. schwarzi Breeding Passage Non-breeding | |
The Radde's warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi) is a small bird known as a leaf warbler. It makes its home and raises its young in Siberia. This bird is a strong migrator, meaning it travels very long distances. It flies south to spend the winter in warmer places like Southeast Asia.
The name Phylloscopus comes from Ancient Greek words. Phullon means "leaf," and skopos means "seeker" or "watcher." So, it's like a "leaf-seeker." The second part of its name, schwarzi, honors a German astronomer named Ludwig Schwarz (1822–1894).
What Does Radde's Warbler Look Like?
This warbler is about the same size as a willow warbler. Adult Radde's warblers have a plain brown back and light, creamy-yellow feathers on their belly. They have a very clear, long white stripe above their eye, called a supercilium.
Their pointed beak is a bit thicker than the beak of a similar bird, the dusky warbler. Radde's warblers also have lighter-colored legs than dusky warblers. Their feet look quite big, which helps them move around on the ground more easily. Both male and female Radde's warblers look alike. Young birds, however, have a slightly more yellow color on their underside. When a Radde's warbler calls, it makes a soft chick sound.
Where Do Radde's Warblers Live?
Radde's warblers breed in the southern parts of Central and Eastern Siberia. Their breeding range stretches as far east as Korea and Manchuria. Since they are migratory birds, they fly to warmer countries for the winter. These winter homes include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
In their breeding areas, Radde's warblers prefer open forests with trees that lose their leaves (deciduous woodlands). They like places with some bushes and thick plants on the ground, often close to water. In their winter homes, they live at the edges of forests, in thick bushes, and other bushy areas near woodlands. Like most Old World warblers, this small passerine bird eats mostly insects.
Radde's Warbler Life Cycle and Breeding
Radde's warblers build their nests low down in bushes. A female warbler usually lays about five eggs. These eggs have a grayish background color. They are covered with fine brownish-olive speckles and streaks, which almost hide the base color. Each egg is about 17 millimeters long and 13 millimeters wide.
Sometimes, these small warblers get lost during their long migration. They can end up far away, even in western Europe in October. This is surprising because it's about 3,000 kilometers from their usual breeding grounds! For example, one was seen at the Copeland Bird Observatory in County Down, Northern Ireland, in 2008. Another one was accidentally found in Heligoland, an island in Germany.
