LC
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta



Justification

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. The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not 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 4,270,000-7,070,000 mature individuals, with 2,130,000-3,540,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 75% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 5,690,000-9,430,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. The species' population in Europe is considered to have undergone a moderate increase 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 increasing over three generations.

Trend justification
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Ecology

This species is found in maquis, orchards, large and ill-kept gardens, oak (Quercus) scrub, dense thorny bushes in meadows, thickets in forest glades or at forest edges, overgrown pastureland and riverine forest. It breeds from March to July. The nest is a well-built cup of grasses, plant stems and soft twigs, often covered with pieces of bark and lichens, attached with cobwebs. It is lined with fine fibres, roots, fur and similar materials and placed in the fork of a branch in a tree. Clutches are four to five eggs. The diet is mainly insects and other invertebrates but it also takes some fruits and berries in the summer. The species is migratory, wintering in west Africa (Svensson and Christie 2013).

Threats

This species is threatened by the effects of climate change, which  may reduce its range (Engler et al. 2013).

Conservation actions

Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species within Europe.

Conservation Actions Proposed

No conservation measures are currently needed for this species within Europe.

Acknowledgements

Text account compilers
Martin, R., Rutherford, C.A.

Contributors
Dowsett, R.J.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/melodious-warbler-hippolais-polyglotta on 27/12/2024.
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 27/12/2024.