Birds and wildlife

Wood Warbler

Phylloscopus sibilatrixGroup: WarblersUK Conservation status:Red

How to identify

The Wood Warbler is one of the largest Phylloscopus warblers in Europe. It has bright yellow upper parts, throat and upper chest and white under parts. The species is widespread and numerous in deciduous forest in Europe and reaches its highest densities in the UK in the western oak woods of Wales.

Call

Wood Warbler

Patrik Åberg / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

  • Fairly large for a warbler in the UK
  • Look for bright yellow upperparts, throat and upper chest and white underparts
  • Listen for its ‘coin spinning’ song

Conservation status

The Wood Warbler is another RSPB Priority Species and we manage Atlantic oakwoods so the habitat is just right for them. We also do wider work trying to find out the reasons why these and other migrant birds are declining.

Where and when to see them

Difficulty rating - A challenge

In oakwoods mostly in the west of the UK. You could see one at these RSPB nature reserves: Lake Vyrnwy, Powys; Ynys-hir, Ceredigion; Nagshead, Gloucestershire; Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire; and Inversnaid, Sterlingshire.

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Where best to see them

Male Wood Warbler perched on branch in woodland
Male Wood Warbler
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Key facts