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 2,780,000-4,960,000 mature individuals, with 1,390,000-2,480,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 90% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 3,090,000-5,510,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. The species' population in Europe is considered to have undergone a small decline overall 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.
Trend justification
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During the breeding season this species is found in dense low vegetation, grass thickets, nettles (Urtica) and tangled herbage in meadows, moist woodland, damp forest clearings and sedge marshes. It also uses riverbanks and abandoned cultivation. In the African non-breeding quarters the species uses dense green bush and scrub, rank herbage, tall grass and woodland undergrowth. Egg laying begins from end of May and continues to mid-July in east Europe. The nest is a loose cup of grass stems and leaves, lined with finer grasses and hair. It is built in thick vegetation or at the base of a bush, on or very close to the ground and commonly has an approach “run” or corridor. Clutches are typically four to six eggs. It feeds mainly on insects but also takes spiders (Araneae), small ticks (Acarina), millipedes (Diplopoda) and small molluscs. The species is a long-distance migrant, wintering in eastern and southern Africa (Pearson 2006).
There are not thought to be any current significant threats to this species.
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
Research to identify causes of population declines and appropriate conservation measures.
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A., Martin, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/river-warbler-locustella-fluviatilis on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.