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Blyth's reed warbler

Skilled singer

Blyth's reed warbler, photo Tomi Muukkonen
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The Blyth’s reed warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) sings and makes its nest in dense cow parsley or raspberry stands. The male doesn’t arrive in Finland from its migration until early June. Its song is highly skilled, consisting of fast-flowing smacks, chattering and rambling whistles with a seemingly infinite number of themes and a relaxed tempo.

When it is not singing, the Blyth’s reed warbler is almost impossible to notice. Male Blyth’s reed warblers that manage to find mates stop singing altogether, whereas those with poorer luck can continue singing all the way to July. The species winters in Africa and migrates in early August. Blyth’s reed warblers are often sought by British bird watchers visiting Helsinki, as the species is not found in western Europe.