Barred Warbler

Overview

The barred warbler (Curruca nisoria) is a strongly migratory passerine bird in the family Sylviidae that breeds across temperate central and eastern Europe and western and central Asia. It is the largest species within the Curruca genus and represents an ancient lineage with no particularly close relatives.

Identification

• Large warbler (15.5–17 cm), mainly grey above and whitish below.
• Adult males have white tips on wing coverts and tail feathers and a heavily barred underside; females are paler with light barring.
• Bill is blackish with a paler base and legs are stout and grey-brown.
• Song is a pleasant chattering with many clear notes, harsher and slightly higher-pitched than a garden warbler's song.

Habitat

Found in open country with bushes for nesting, sharing very similar habitat preferences to the red-backed shrike. It breeds in central and eastern Europe and western and central Asia, and winters in tropical eastern Africa.

Diet

Mainly insectivorous, but extensively consumes berries and other soft fruit in late summer and autumn.

Did you know?

The specific name nisoria is Medieval Latin for the Eurasian sparrowhawk, which is also barred.