# Great Reed Warbler (*Acrocephalus arundinaceus*) The Great Reed Warbler is a big, brown bird that loves to sing! It often lives in tall reeds near water and is known for its beautiful, cheerful songs that can be heard from far away. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Great Reed Warbler](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Drosselrohrs%C3%A4nger_Great_reed_warbler.jpg&width=800) Photo: Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drosselrohrs%C3%A4nger_Great_reed_warbler.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Reed Warbler is a large, sturdy warbler with plain brown upperparts and whitish underparts. It has a distinctive pale stripe above its eye, making its head appear subtly striped. Its strong bill helps it catch insects. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Acrocephalidae - **Genus:** Acrocephalus ## Interesting facts - A male's song can include over 100 different musical phrases! - Their powerful chattering songs can be heard over long distances across wetlands! - These tiny birds fly all the way from Europe to Africa for winter! - They often build cup-shaped nests directly over water, anchored to tall reeds. ## Special abilities - **Sound Weaver:** Great Reed Warblers can mimic other bird calls because their complex vocal cords help them create varied and surprising songs. - **Reed Acrobatics:** Great Reed Warblers have strong legs and feet that help them cling and climb through dense reeds, making them hard to spot! - **Migration Master:** Great Reed Warblers can fly thousands of kilometers because they possess an internal compass that guides them across continents. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.022-0.038 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 13-15 days - **Migration Distance:** 8000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds mostly munch on insects, slurping up spiders and beetles from marshy plants. - **Primary Foods:** Dragonflies, Damselflies, Beetles, Caterpillars, Spiders, Grasshoppers - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Common Reed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-reed) (*Phragmites australis*) — uses its sturdy stems for nesting and cover. - **Eats:** [Emperor Dragonfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/emperor-dragonfly) (*Anax imperator*) — preys on adult and larval stages. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Sparrowhawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — can be hunted by this agile raptor. - **Eaten by:** [Grass Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grass-snake) (*Natrix natrix*) — nestlings and eggs are vulnerable to this predator. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and be quiet so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Reed Warbler? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Great Reed Warbler? 16-20 cm ### What is Great Reed Warbler's wingspan? 25-30 cm ### How much does Great Reed Warbler weigh? 0.022-0.038 kg ### How long does Great Reed Warbler live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Great Reed Warbler move? 45 km/h ### What does Great Reed Warbler eat? These birds mostly munch on insects, slurping up spiders and beetles from marshy plants. ### Where is Great Reed Warbler usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Grand Parc Miribel Jonage](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-parc-miribel-jonage) — FR · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Great Reed Warbler: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-reed-warbler)