Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range and the population size is extremely large, hence does not approach threatened thresholds for the range or population size criteria. Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
In Europe, the total population size is estimated at 16,200,000-28,500,000 mature individuals, with 8,100,000-14,300,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 95% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 17,100,000-30,000,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. The species' population in Europe is considered to have undergone a small decline over three generations (10 years) (BirdLife International 2021). As this region holds the vast majority of the species' global range, the global population size is considered to be decreasing slowly over three generations. This species is considered to have a medium dependency on forest habitat, which is estimated to be declining at a slow rate within its mapped range (Global Forest Watch 2024).
Trend justification
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This species breeds in lowlands, in moist and shady deciduous woods, typically beech (Fagus), mixed oak (Quercus), hornbeam (Carpinus) and sweet chestnut (Castanea), with closed canopy and sparse undergrowth. It is also found in mixed stands of spruce (Picea), alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), pine (Pinus) or occasionally ash (Fraxinus).The optimal breeding areas are mixed stands with trees of mixed ages spaced well apart. In its African non-breeding grounds it uses humid evergreen forest, moist thickets, forest edge, dry woodland and forested mountain slopes as well as wooded savanna and scattered trees in forest clearings, often in fig trees (Ficus), occasionally in mangroves. It breeds from May to July and normally lays five to seven eggs. The female chooses the nest site and builds the nest which is a ball of dry grasses, leaves, plant stems and fibres, bark strips and animal hair. It is usually built on the ground but occasionally found under a fallen tree or roots (Clement 2015). The diet is mainly insects and other invertebrates, with some fruit taken in the autumn. The species is migratory and winters in sub-Saharan Africa (Snow and Perrins 1998).
In some areas changing forestry management practices have caused declines in this species (Mallord et al. 2012).
Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Habitat quality should be restored through appropriate management, including the introduction of a moderate grazing regime (Mallord et al. 2012).
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A., Martin, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/wood-warbler-phylloscopus-sibilatrix on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.