What does the chiffchaff eat? How can you tell the chiffchaff from the willow hornet? We introduce the songbird in our profile.
Although the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) is a fairly common bird, it is seldom noticed. This is probably due to its inconspicuous appearance, because the songbird - also known as the willow warbler - does not particularly stand out with its small, brown-grey shape. But appearances are deceptive and the chiffchaff makes up for its simple appearance with a piercing and very memorable song. The unmistakable bird's voice also led to the naming of the feathered singer, who literally calls "zilp-zalp-zilp-zalp" through the forest. And not only the German-speaking countries were influenced by this when choosing a name - for example, the chiffchaff is called "Tjiftjaf" in Dutch and "Chiffchaff" in English. Sound recordings of the striking song and other interesting information on breeding business, food and differentiation from other species can be found in our profile below.
Chiffchaff: Wanted Poster
| Size | About 10 cm |
| Weight | Up to 10g |
| Incubation | May - June |
| Lifetime | Up to 5 years |
| Habitat | Forests, parks and gardens |
| Food Preference | Insects |
| Threats | Decline in natural habitat and food |
How to recognize the Willow Warbler
The chiffchaff is a relatively small songbird with a narrow, pointed beak. Crown, back and elytra are grey-brown in color and contrast slightly with the light underside. The only distinctive feature of the Willow Warbler is the light, yellowish eye stripe. Male and female chiffchaff are visually indistinguishable.
What does the song of the chiffchaff sound like?
The chiffchaff's eponymous song consists of onetwo- or three-part verse that changes pitch and is repeated as often as you like: "Zilp-zalp-zilp-zalp-zilp-zalp". Incidentally, this simple bird call, which also reveals the species to which it belongs, is an excellent introduction to acoustic ornithology. For more tips for beginners and bird enthusiasts, check out our special birding article.
You can listen to the chiffchaff song in this recording:
How do you recognize the young of the chiffchaff?
Young chiffchaff are already small versions of their parents and therefore very easy to recognize. In comparison to the adult animals, however, the light stripe above the eyes is not yet fully developed. In late season, small groups of young chiffchaff can often be seen roaming together.
How do you recognize chiffchaff eggs?
The female chiffchaff lays four to six eggs per clutch. These are about 15 millimeters in size, white and overlooked with fine black speckles. The eggs are laid in a spherical nest with a side entrance made of moss and plant parts and padded with feathers.
How do you tell the chiffchaff apart from the willow eater?
There is a high risk of confusion between the chiffchaff and the closely related willow hornet. The two species look almost identical and can only be distinguished from one another up close or through binoculars. The most important feature is the color of the legs, because the chiffchaff has dark legs, while the willows have light legs. Another distinguishing point, which is often harder to recognize and is somewhat variable, is the coloring of the cheeks and flanks, which appear a little more pure white in the Willow Ward than in the Chiffchaff. In addition, the primary projection, i.e. the part of the wing tip that is visible when attached, is longer in the Willow Ward than in the Chiffchaff.
Before examining the sighted animal in detail, you should first pay attention to possible vocalizations. Because the singing of the two species could hardly be more different and is therefore still the best distinguishing feature.
What is the perfect habitat for the chiffchaff?
The chiffchaff uses a whole range of habitats and does not shy away from proximity to humans. So he comes in forests, parks, and gardens tooisolated hedge areas. The only important thing for him is a well-developed shrub layer and dense vegetation near the ground. The chiffchaff is also distributed from low altitudes to high mountains and has been recorded in areas up to 2000 meters above sea level.
Where does the chiffchaff build its nest?
The chiffchaff builds its nest in vegetation close to the ground. He uses any kind of hedge or shrub, as long as they are dense enough to shield the half-open nest well. Due to its proximity to the ground, it would otherwise be at great risk from cats and other predators. The spherical nest, also known as the "oven nest", is mainly made by the female and requires a lot of building material. The female flies out up to 1500 times within five days to look for nesting material.
When is the Chiffchaff breeding season?
The female usually lays her eggs in early May and then incubates them for 13 to 15 days. The young birds then fly away, but remain dependent on their parents for support for up to 20 days before they can fend for themselves. Since the low-lying nests are vulnerable to nest predators, Chiffchaff loss rates are quite high and a second brood is not uncommon.
Where does the chiffchaff spend the winter?
The chiffchaff escapes the cold winters in our region and therefore begins to migrate south from mid-August. The birds spend the winter either in the Mediterranean, in Africa or near the Persian Gulf. A few specimens also overwinter in Germany, but the majority of the populations migrate south and only return to us and their breeding grounds in March.
Support Willow Warblers: How it works
Anyone who would like to support the chiffchaff in its daily struggle for resources will find some tips and tricks on food, nesting sites and other assistance in the following sections.
Chiffchaff food
The chiffchaff is a pronounced insectivore, for which its small, pointed beak is ideally suited. In autumn and winter he also uses berries and other fruits. If you want to offer additional food in winter, you should therefore not offer hard grains, but soft food mixtures, mealworms or fruit. With our Plantura litter for wild birds, for example, you can support the little singers. The litter consists of high-quality seeds,oatmeal and raisins and offers plenty of energy for cold winter days. And even if only a few chiffchaff spend the winter in Germany, you can support numerous other garden birds with our bedding. You can find more information on the preferences of different bird species in our article on the topic "Make your own bird seed".
Which nest boxes are suitable for the chiffchaff?
Chiffchaff are free breeders and therefore difficult to support with nesting aids. Because the typical nesting boxes with an entrance hole are more suitable for cave breeders such as blue tits, great tits or starlings. Instead, the chiffchaff can be assisted in creating natural nesting sites by not over-thinning hedges and creating dense, ground-level vegetation. A slightly different form of nesting aid that is actually suitable for free breeders is the branch pocket. In this method, bundles of twigs - preferably from evergreen coniferous trees - are placed in a loop and attached to a tree trunk by the ends. For the targeted promotion of the chiffchaff, the branch bag should be attached near the ground.
How can you support the chiffchaff?
In addition to the scarcity of food in winter, many birds have less and less food available in summer as insects continue to disappear. This is one of the reasons for the declining population of our native songbirds and of course affects insectivores in particular. Anyone who supports the protection of insects is also supporting our feathered friends. Therefore, do not use chemical sprays in your garden, as they often contain insect-toxic substances. In the supermarket, also pay attention to which cultivation methods you want to support with your purchase. If you want to bring more life into your garden, you can also create a beneficial insect meadow. With our Plantura beneficial insect magnet, you can easily create a true paradise for small and large garden visitors.
On hot days, almost all birds are also happy about a bird bath, which can easily be made from a trivet or a flat bowl. You will not only please the chiffchaff, but also the chaffinch, nuthatch and co.