Reed Warblers and Allies

Reed warblers and similar birds are small, mostly brown songbirds with thin bills. They often hide in thick plants, making them hard to see. Most have plain feathers with slight streaks, which can make telling them apart difficult. They have strong legs that help them hold onto vertical stems, and many have flat foreheads and pointed tops of their heads. These birds eat insects and live across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia, with the most types found in tropical areas of the Old World. They usually live in wetlands, reedbeds, marshes, and areas with scrubby plants. Some species prefer drier places like gardens and the edges of woods. Many of these birds are good singers, making complex, repeated songs often sung from deep inside the plants where they hide. Several species travel long distances when migrating.