Melodious Warbler

Overview

The melodious warbler (Hippolais polyglotta) is a medium-sized Old World warbler belonging to the genus Hippolais. It is a migratory species that breeds in western and southern Europe and northwestern Africa, spending the winter in sub-Saharan Africa.

Identification

• Medium-sized passerine measuring 12 to 13 cm in length, with a strong, pointed bill and brown legs.
• Features plain brown upperparts and yellowish underparts, distinguishing it from the icterine warbler by being browner above and yellower below.
• Produces a pleasant, fluent and sustained babbling song that lacks the mimicked sounds found in icterine warbler vocalisations.
• Other calls include a rattling "trrrr" similar to a house sparrow, a quiet "tuk", and a chattering "chret-chet".

Habitat

Breeds in western Europe from the Iberian Peninsula eastwards to Germany and Italy, as well as in parts of northwestern Africa including Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It favours open woodland with bushes, forest edges, thickets, riverside vegetation, orchards, and gardens, and migrates to West Africa south of the Sahara Desert to overwinter.

Diet

Mainly insectivorous like most warblers, but will also consume other small food items including berries.

Did you know?

The specific name polyglotta is derived from the Ancient Greek words for "many" and "tongue", meaning "harmonious".