Grassbirds · Perching birds
Lanceolated Warbler
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Locustella lanceolata
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How to recognize it
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12–12.5 cm, like a tit
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Brown upperparts with black spots
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Pale grey underparts with black streaks
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Skulks through grass near water; song a mechanical "trrr"
About the species
The lanceolated warbler keeps low and slips through grass and thin foliage rather than sitting out in the open. Its song is a steady, insect-like reel, often given at dusk.
It is usually hard to spot except when it sings. It moves quietly and stays close to cover, which matches its plain, secretive habits.
It lives in grassy places with thicker shrubs or a few trees, often near water in bogs and wet clearings. It feeds on insects and their larvae, and it breeds from northeast European Russia across northern Asia to Hokkaidō. It migrates south for winter.
Where to find
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Along reedy pond edges and canal banks — in tall sedges and rushes, where its thin insect-like reel comes from deep in the grass.
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On damp vacant lots and wet meadows near water — watch for short, low runs at ground level through dense grass.
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In soggy thickets at the edge of large parks — easiest at dawn or dusk, when the steady buzzing song rises from cover.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Locustella lanceolata Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Lanceolated warbler Encyclopedia article