Garden Warbler

Sylvia borin

Ceolaire garraí

Status: Scarce summer visitor to woodlands in the midlands and northern Ireland from April to September. Also a scarce passage migrant mainly in spring and autumn to headlands on southern and western coasts.

Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population is considered to be Secure.

Identification: A very non-descript small brown bird with few identification features. Appears largely like a female Blackcap without the brown cap. Has a very faint buffish eyestripe. Ages and sexes identical.

Similar Species: Other Warblers.

Call: A hard "teck". The song is very similar to that of the Blackcap, though lacks that species more ecstatic sound. 

Diet: Feeds almost exclusively on insects and other invertebrates.

Breeding: Prefers dense decidous woodland with good undergrowth. Also breeds in larger parks and gardens. Rather unobtrusive and seldom noticed unless singing. The majority of the population appear to be concentrated in the Midlands and north.

Wintering: Winters in tropical Africa. A relatively common passage migrant to headlands along the south and west coast, chiefly in autumn.

Where to See: The lakes in County Cavan support a good population of Garden Warblers. Crom Castle Estate in County Fermanagh is another reliable site to see or at least hear Garden Warblers.

Monitored by: Countryside Bird Survey and BirdTrack.