9-4-2025 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCIA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

The Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) is a small, elusive bird with a rich chestnut or dark reddish-brown upperparts and pale grey underparts. It has a rounded head with a narrow pale grey stripe over its conspicuous black eyes, and short, rounded wings. The tail is notably longer and broader than many other warblers, and this species is unique among passerines for having ten tail feathers instead of the usual twelve.

Males and females of the Cetti's Warbler are similar in plumage, but males are significantly heavier and have longer wings. The male's wing length exceeds 60 mm, while the female's is shorter than 55 mm. Juveniles resemble adults but can be distinguished by their fresher plumage and two dark spots on the tongue.

Cetti's Warblers are typically found in damp environments such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and riversides, where they can be heard if not always seen.

This species breeds across southern and central Europe, northwest Africa, and eastward to Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. Since 1990, their numbers have increased across Europe, with stable or growing populations in Italy and Turkey. The UK saw its first record in 1961, and it is now a rare vagrant in Ireland.

Cetti's Warblers are known for their skulking habits, making them a challenge to observe. They are territorial, especially during the breeding season, with males establishing their domains and attracting multiple females.

The song of the Cetti's Warbler is a loud, explosive burst of notes, which is distinctive and serves as a key identifier for the species.

The breeding season sees males defending their territories and attracting females with their song. Nests are built by the females in dense vegetation, with 4 to 5 chestnut-red eggs laid at daily intervals. The female incubates the eggs, which hatch after about 16 to 17 days. Fledglings are fed and cared for by the parents for an additional 15 days post-fledging.

Cetti's Warblers feed on arthropods, favoring small, soft-bodied insects and larvae which they can digest quickly.

The Cetti's Warbler is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a stable or increasing population in most of its range.

15-3-2023 RIBA-ROJA DE TURIA, VALENCIA - CETTI'S WARBLER

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116858-Cettia-cetti

13-2-2022 BELLUS, VALENCIA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116858-Cettia-cetti

30-5-2021 PERALVILLO, LA MANCHA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116858-Cettia-cetti

28-3-2021 ULLAL DE BALDOVI, VALENCA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116858-Cettia-cetti

 

14-6-2020 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/116858-Cettia-cetti

5-11-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

The Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) is a small, elusive bird with a rich chestnut or dark reddish-brown upperparts and pale grey underparts. It has a rounded head with a narrow pale grey stripe over its conspicuous black eyes, and short, rounded wings. The tail is notably longer and broader than many other warblers, and this species is unique among passerines for having ten tail feathers instead of the usual twelve.

Males and females of the Cetti's Warbler are similar in plumage, but males are significantly heavier and have longer wings. The male's wing length exceeds 60 mm, while the female's is shorter than 55 mm. Juveniles resemble adults but can be distinguished by their fresher plumage and two dark spots on the tongue.

Cetti's Warblers are typically found in damp environments such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and riversides, where they can be heard if not always seen.

This species breeds across southern and central Europe, northwest Africa, and eastward to Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. Since 1990, their numbers have increased across Europe, with stable or growing populations in Italy and Turkey. The UK saw its first record in 1961, and it is now a rare vagrant in Ireland.

Cetti's Warblers are known for their skulking habits, making them a challenge to observe. They are territorial, especially during the breeding season, with males establishing their domains and attracting multiple females.

5-2-2016 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - CETTI'S WARBLER (Cettia cetti)

Cetti's warbler (Cettia cetti ) is a small, brown bush-warbler which breeds in southern and central Europe, northwest Africa and the east Palearctic as far as Afghanistan and northwest Pakistan. The sexes are alike. The bird is named after the 18th century Italian zoologist, Francesco Cetti. This species is very difficult to see because of its skulking habits.

The Cetti's warbler is approximately 13–14 cm (5.1–5.5 in) from bill to tail. The male weighs 15 g (0.53 oz) and the female 12 g (0.42 oz). Cetti's warbler has a rounded head with a narrow pale grey stripe arching over conspicuous black eyes, and short, rounded wings. The upperparts are a rich chestnut or dark reddish-brown; the throat and breast are pale grey. The tail is longer and broader than many other warblers. The sexes have similar plumage, but males are 26% to 32% heavier than females with a wing-length 11.2% to 13% longer. The male has a wing longer than 60 mm; the female has a wing shorter than 55 mm. The birds can be aged by their plumage; juveniles look similar to adults but have fresh plumage and two dark or dark grey spots on the tongue. Cetti's warbler is unusual among passerine birds in having ten tail feathers (rectrices) rather than the usual twelve.

Cetti's warblers signal their presence with loud song. Their song is distinct, comes in loud bursts, and has a unique structure that allows the birds to avoid mating with other species.