Can I tell the difference between sedge and reed warblers? (1 Viewer)

Capercaillie71

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2009

• #1

In this part of the world I don't normally have a problem - they are all sedge warblers! However, a recent visit to southern England gave me my first chance to catch up with reed warblers for a couple of years, and as they are showing signs of extending their range in this direction, I thought I should make the effort to try and distinguish their songs.

I heard more than I saw, and these two recordings are of birds that I didn't see but which I have attempted to identify. The recordings are not great -lots of wind noise and some include the sound of my daughter running up and down the hide (don't worry - no one else was there!), but I reckon the first one sounds fast and furious and much like the Sedge Warblers that I hear at home, while the second two (which I think are both of the same bird) sound slightly more laid back and may be a reed warbler. Am I right or wrong?

 

Attachments

• Sedge warbler.mp3

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• Reed Warbler 1.mp3

  194 KB · Views: 147
• Reed Warbler 2.mp3

  236 KB · Views: 133

Stephen Dunstan

Registered User

• Jun 30, 2009

• #2

The quality isn't great but I think you are probably right.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

ulfg

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2009

• #3

"Sedge warbler" is definitely a sedge warbler.
"Reed warbler 1" is definitely a reed warbler. The last seconds of this recording also contains the song of a sedge warbler.
"Reed warbler 2" sounds like a slow sedge warbler. I think it's the same one that is heard at the end of "RW1".
/ulf

 

C

citrinella

Well-known member

• Jul 1, 2009

• #4

Thanks for posting this Capercaillie. We've just been in the Suffolk reedbeds, struggling with exactly the same problem We started from zero experience. Catching a few reed at a ringing session didn't help with calls :-(

Mike.

 

C

CAU

Well-known member

• Jul 1, 2009

• #5

ulfg said:

"Sedge warbler" is definitely a sedge warbler.
"Reed warbler 1" is definitely a reed warbler. The last seconds of this recording also contains the song of a sedge warbler.
"Reed warbler 2" sounds like a slow sedge warbler.

Click to expand...

I agree completely. "Reed warbler 2" is a Sedge Warbler.

 

S

s. james

Stephen

• Jul 1, 2009

• #6

I have a similar problem. The vast majority of reedbed warblers round my way are sedge but there's usually the odd reed warbler present. I've never been able to track down a reed warbler yet, although I know where they are meant to be present, I've heard a few likely singing candidates but they could just as easily have been slow sedgies.

Listened to the last two recordings there and while the last definately sounds sedge-like I would have difficulty telling them apart without a sighting. What I need to do is get a sighting of a reed warbler in song- then it will stick.

 

Capercaillie71

Well-known member

• Jul 1, 2009

• #7

OK. Thanks everyone. Looks like it isn't as simple as I thought!

 

D

davercox

Dave Cox

Supporter

• Jul 2, 2009

• #8

Reed Warblers always have a definite rhythm to them, about two beats to the second.
Sedges just chatter brilliantly away.

 

Andy Hall

Notts Birder

• Jul 2, 2009

• #9

I think the 'whistles' of Sedge Warbler are a useful feature. Reed Warblers don't normally do this