What does a garden warbler look like? What does the little songbird eat? And when is the breeding season of the garden warbler? You can find out all this and more in our large profile.
Despite its name, the garden warbler (Sylvia borin) is very rarely found in domestic gardens. In addition, like most warblers, it is a rather shy bird that usually hides in dense vegetation and is only noticeable through its pleasantly fluting song. You can find out how to recognize a garden warbler if you do see one, where the songbirds spend the winter and what else you need to know about the little garden bird here in our large species portrait.
Garden Warbler: Wanted Poster
| Size | About 13 - 14 cm |
| Weight | About 16 - 22 g |
| Incubation | May - July |
| Lifetime | Up to 14 years |
| Habitat | Light forests and semi-open landscapes |
| Food Preference | Insects |
| Threats | Declining food and habitat |
How to recognize the garden warbler
The garden warbler is the simplest of our native warbler species. Her only trait is that she basically doesn't own one. All of their plumage is a uniform grey-brown, with the breast and belly a little lighter than the top. However, it does not have the high-contrast plumage of the lesser warbler, the black cap of the blackcap, or the reddish-brown elytra of the whitethroat. Using the exclusion principle, however, the little whitethroat can be easily distinguished from its relatives by its lack of features.
Male and female garden warblers are visually indistinguishable and very difficult to tell apart from their adult juveniles.
What does the garden warbler song sound like?
The garden warbler's song consists of onelovely, fluting stanza. However, like its plumage, the garden warbler's bird call has no real characteristics or structure. The song ripples like a gentle stream, reminiscent of a more subtle variant of blackcap song.
You can listen to the garden warbler song in the audio recording below.
What do garden warbler eggs look like?
The eggs of the garden warbler are about two centimeters in size, are off-white in color and covered with dark spots. They are placed in a cup-shaped nest made of small twigs, blades of grass, and other plant matter.
What habitat does the garden warbler prefer?
Garden warblers prefer to live in undisturbed, light forests or semi-open landscapes with richly structured vegetation. But they sometimes also feel at home in parks, gardens or cemeteries with a lot of undergrowth.
Where does the garden warbler build its nest?
The garden warbler builds its nest just a few meters above the ground in dense vegetation. Hedges, bushes and shrubs are often used as breeding grounds.
When is the garden warbler breeding season?
The breeding season of the garden warbler is from May to July. After laying the eggs, the clutch is incubated for twelve days. The young birds hatch naked and featherless, which characterizes them as so-called altricials that are entirely dependent on the care of their bird parents. Females and males share the raising and feeding of their offspring and tend to their youngsters intensively for about two weeks until they are large enough to attempt flight and leave the nest.
Where does the garden warbler spend the winter?
The garden warbler is a long-distance migrant. It spends its winters mainly south of the Sahara, in the tropical areas of Africa. It is one of the last migratory birds to arrive and can therefore not be seen again until the end of April or even May.
Support the garden warbler in the garden: This is how it works
In order for garden warblers to feel comfortable in your garden, there are a few things to consider. Basically, however, the small songbirds are quite shy andprefer undisturbed corners with dense vegetation. You can find out how to create suitable nesting sites and ensure sufficient food here.
What do garden warblers eat?
Garden warblers feed almost exclusively on animal food. Insects, spiders and molluscs are at the top of their diet. Occasionally, however, they also use fruits or berries.
You cannot lure the birds with classic birdseed in the form of seeds and grains, but you can still support them by designing an insect-friendly garden. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnet, for example, you can create a small paradise for insects and other garden visitors in no time at all, giving the garden warbler a rich hunting ground.
Which nesting aids are suitable for garden warblers?
Classic nesting boxes, such as those used for cave-nesting bird species, are out of the question for garden warblers. They prefer open, free-standing nests. Nevertheless, the songbirds can be supported by offering wild, dense bushes or hedges in which they can hide their nests from house cats and other predators. Wild roses and other shrubs with thorns offer particularly effective protection.
How can you support the garden warbler?
Although bird-friendly gardens are of course helpful, they are not the main habitats of the garden warbler. Like numerous other wild birds, it is dependent on suitable structures in our landscape, which have been lost with increasing monotony. Only through large-scale changes in our land use and a reflection on natural and insect-friendly agriculture can the progressive decline in wild bird populations be stopped. And those who support these goals also support the little garden warbler.
Another nondescript songbird that travels long distances to escape the cold winters in its breeding areas is the chiffchaff. Get to know these garden birds a little better in our large species profile.