Aron Tanti

Breeds in temperate latitudes from W Europe to C Asia (BirdLife International 2021). Winter quarters in Africa, mostly across the Sahelian belt entering into E Africa (BirdLife International 2021). Associated to wetlands with dense cover of tall vegetation (Kennerley & Pearson 2010), also mangroves, even drier shrubland areas in Africa (Zwarts et al. 2009).

Season of assessment

B

Population trendStable
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		3890000-6630000,5060000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Eurasian Reed Warbler

High migratory connectivity; distribution ranges in winter mirror breeding distribution ranges. Birds from W Europe (including from S Iberia, as shown by studies based on light-level geolocators, F. Jiguet, com. per.) overwinter in W Africa, mostly Senegambia; from C Europe, further to E in Africa, up to Mali and the Gulf of Guinea. N populations, up to Russia, show progressive change in migratory direction from W to E, so reed warblers from E Europe migrate SE to E Africa. However, populations at similar longitude further N (E Scandinavia) still show a SW axis of migration. Disparity of migratory directions in C Europe, seemingly dominant SW axis of migration in autumn if breeding closer to the Baltic/Wadden Sea area, SE axis if breeding closer to the Balkan peninsula (Prochazka et al 2008). Birds from W Ukrainia move SW; from E Ukrainia probably SE (but only one recovery). Remarkable number of reed warblers of unknown origin passing through Adriatic to W (Spain), which might suggest that some birds from E Europe also move SW. 

Recoveries by Condition for Eurasian Reed Warbler

Overall, most (>95%) recoveries due to birds captured alive, usually in ringing campaigns. Indeed, reed warblers are one the most captured passerines for ringing due to their very high catchability in mist nets situated across reed beds. By periods, however, a small but still remarkable fraction of recoveries before 1960 were due to birds found dead (ca. 10%), with less than 5% due to shot. This pattern clearly changed during the period 1961-1990, and from 1990 to present the proportion of birds found dead is absolutely marginal. Impressive sample size, with >450,000 recoveries of birds recaptured alive overall.

Annual Movements for Eurasian Reed Warbler

First post-breeding movements in Jul, with prolonged migration across Europe up to Oct. Peak of migration in S Europe (before crossing the sea area to Africa) in Aug. Fuel is gained progressively as the birds reach the N border of the Mediterranean/Sahara (Biebach 1990). Fuelling in NW Africa in autumn possible, but not in NE Africa. Most recoveries in winter quarters in Africa from Oct to Mar/Apr. Spring passage through Europe starts in Mar in S Europe, patent in Apr up to May. Arrival to N breeding quarters in Scandinavia mostly in May. Recoveries in winter in Europe progressively more frequent (e.g., Morganti & Pulido 2012).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Eurasian Reed Warbler

Across the SW flyway, passage through Iberia mostly Aug-Sep; NW Africa more in Sep-Oct. Relatively much less number of recoveries in Italy, suggesting avoidance to pass to Africa through the central Mediterranean. Across the SW flyway, passage through the Balkans and the E Mediterranean mostly Aug-Sep. Many recoveries in Israel and the E Mediterranean in spring (most in Apr), as compared to a comparatively higher number of recoveries in N Egypt in autumn (Aug-Sep), suggesting loop migration (further E passage in spring).

Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
Biebach, H.1990 . Strategies of trans-Saharan migrants. In: E. Gwinner (Eds.), Bird migration. Springer Heidelberg, Berlin: 352–367
BirdLife International 2021 . Species factsheet: Acrocephalus scirpaceus.
Kennerley, P., Pearson, D.2010 . Reed and bush warblers. Helm Identification Guides, UK
Morganti, M., Pulido, F.2012 . Invernada de aves migradoras transaharianas en España. In: SEO/BirdLife (Eds.), Atlas de las aves en invierno en España 2007-2010. Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medioambiente-SEO/BirdLife, Madrid: 59–64
Procházka, P., Hobson, K., Karcza, Z., Kralj, J.2008 . Birds of a feather winter together: migratory connectivity in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Journal of Ornithology 149: 141–150
Zwarts, L., Bijlsma, R. G., van der Kamp, J., Wymenga, E. 2009 . Living on the edge: Wetlands and birds in a changing Sahel. KNNV Publishing, Zeist

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