Habitat
Breeds in large, open lowland marsh habitats with low grassy vegetation with water mostly less than 10 cm deep. Winters in similar habitats, and, on migration, favours coastal habitats with low stands of sedge and reed near open water.
Austria (E) (B), Belarus (B), Belgium (P), Bulgaria (P), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska), Czech Republic (P), France (P), Germany (B) (P), Hungary (B), Italy (P), Latvia (B), Lithuania (B), Montenegro (E) (P), Netherlands Antilles (P), Poland (B), Portugal (P), Romania, Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B), Senegal (NB), Serbia (E) (P), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (E) (P), Slovenia (P), Spain (P), Switzerland (P), Ukraine (B), United Kingdom (P).
Vagrant to Algeria, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of], Malta, Norway, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Western Sahara.
Unknown to Ghana (NB), Mali (NB), Mauritania (NB).
Breeds north-eastern Germany-Poland border (lower R Oder) east, very locally, to Lithuania, south-western Belarus, north-western Ukraine and Hungary, and western Russia (east to R Ob); distribution in eastern and south of range imprecisely known. Non-breeding in western Africa south of Sahara.
Population
Estimated population is 22,000 - 30,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Loss of breeding habitat due to drainage for agriculture and peat extraction, damming of floodplains, unfavourable water management, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Mainly insects, from small dragonflies to small flies.
Voice
Song, short rattles together with some fluty notes. A harsh 'churr' call.
Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) [XC663521]
by Grzegorz Lorek from Biebrza Marshes, Poland (song)
Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) [XC661856]
by Romuald Mikusek from Lawki Swamp, Biebrza NP, Gm. Trzcianne, moniecki, podlaskie, Poland (song, wing-clapping)
Nest
A well-shaped cup of grasses and cobwebs, low down, lined with feathers.
Eggs (Guide)
5 - 6; pale buff with darker mottling.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Recent genetic study suggests that Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon), Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and Black-browed Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps) form a monophyletic clade, the "striped reed-warbler group", in which traditionally Streaked Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus sorghophilus) is also included. Probably closest to Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon).
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet