
©Richard Steel/2020VISION
Dartford warbler
Scientific name: Sylvia undata
The small, brown Dartford warbler is most easily spotted when warbling its scratchy song from the top of a gorse stem. It lives on lowland heathland in the south of England, where it nests on the ground.
Species information
Category
Statistics
Length: 12cmWingspan: 16cm
Weight: 10g
Average lifespan: Up to 5 years
Conservation status
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. isted as Near Threatened on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
When to see
January to DecemberAbout
The Dartford warbler is dependent on mature, dry heath habitats in the UK, and particularly on gorse that is in good condition for surviving cold, harsh winters. It only eats insects and does not migrate for the winter, which means it is vulnerable to cold weather and prolonged snow cover. It is a ground-nesting bird, preferring to breed under the protective cover of dense heather or compact gorse.It makes a grassy, cup-shaped nest, in which it lays three to five eggs. It can have up to three broods from April to July.