Savi's Warbler
Locustella luscinioides (Savi, 1824)
VI
SAVWA
12380
Family: Passeriformes > Locustellidae
What it lacks in colour, the reedbed-loving plain brown Savi’s Warbler makes up for with its loud insect-like buzzing song.
The Savi’s Warbler is a very rare breeding bird in the UK, largely confined to a discrete number of reedbed sites in East Anglia and southern England. It is a summer visitor from trans-Saharan Africa and can be heard singing by a lucky few between May and August.
An estimated five to 10 pairs of Savi's Warbler breed in the UK. Savi’s Warblers can be found when on migration but even at this time, despite the European breeding population estimate of around on million pairs, the species is still very rare here.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Savi's Warbler
2.2k records
BTO RECORDS
Identification
Savi's Warbler identification is sometimes difficult.
SONGS AND CALLS
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Savi's Warbler, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Song
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| UK Birds of Conservation Concern | Red listed |
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Least Concern |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | Yes |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
|
Listed on the Annexes of
|
WCA(I,IV), Bern(III), Bonn(II), NERC (41) |
POPULATION SIZE
| UK (breeding) | 5 Pairs (2013–17) |
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
Norfolk, 1819 |
DISTRIBUTION
Savi's Warbler is now a very localised breeding species. During 2008–11 breeding-season records were scattered throughout southern and eastern England between Lincolnshire and Cornwall, but confirmed breeding was only recorded in 2010 when two pairs bred in Sussex.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in breeding season | 19 |
| % occupied in breeding season | 0.6 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
| % change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11) | +58.3% |
SEASONALITY
Savi's Warbler is a rare summer visitor, recorded from April to July; birds are probably under-recorded after males cease singing.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Savi's Warbler, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
|
Number of Broods
|
1–2 |
|
Egg Size
|
20×14 mm Weight = 2.1 g (of which 6% is shell) |
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Ring size
|
A |
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: VI | 5-letter code: SAVWA | Euring: 12380 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Welsh: Telor Savi
Catalan: boscaler comú
Czech: cvrcilka slavíková
Danish: Savisanger
Dutch: Snor
Estonian: roo-ritsiklind
Finnish: ruokosirkkalintu
French: Locustelle luscinioïde
German: Rohrschwirl
Hungarian: nádi tücsökmadár
Icelandic: Flóðsöngvari
Irish: Ceolaire Savi
Italian: Salciaiola
Latvian: Seivi kaukis
Lithuanian: nendrinis žiogelis
Norwegian: Sumpsanger
Polish: brzeczka
Portuguese: cigarrinha-ruiva
Slovak: svrciak slávikovitý
Slovenian: trstni cvrcalec
Spanish: Buscarla unicolor
Swedish: vassångare
Folkname: Night-reeler
Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com
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