General

Icterine Warbler: Robin-sized leaf warbler with long wings. Yellow below, olive-green above with indistinct yellow eye ring and yellow lores, and dark grey wings with pale edging. Has straight, orange bill with dark grey on culmen, and blue-grey legs and feet. Has square-ended tail. Sexes similar. Immatures like adults but with very pale yellow underparts, are light brown above, have pale brown edging to the feathers in the wings, and have a more noticeable, white eye ring that is broken to the rear.

Range and Habitat

Icterine Warbler: Scarce passage visitor to the UK. Breeds during summer in mainland Europe and winters in tropical and southern Africa. Can be seen in autumn, but more likely to be seen on spring passage when birds use a westerly route. Prefers open woodland and forest edges.

Breeding and Nesting

Icterine Warbler: Nest is large, tidy cup built in the fork of a tree or bush, usually 1 - 4 metres above ground. Nest is made of grasses, roots, and moss, and lined with plant down, fine grasses, and rootlets; often attached to twigs with loops of grass. Female is mostly responsible for incubation.

Foraging and Feeding

Icterine Warbler: Feeds mainly on insects, which it takes while perched or fluttering. In late summer will also eat berries and other soft fruits.

Vocalisation

Icterine Warbler: Burbling combination of moderately slow and medium to high pitched trills and flute-like sounds. Call is "chi-chi-vooi" and nasal "geea-geea;" also "tak-tak."

Similar Species

Icterine Warbler: Wood Warbler has a well-defined yellow supercilium, dark eye-stripe and has more contrast between the white underparts and the bright yellow breast and throat. Marsh Warbler has longer undertail coverts, a square tail tip and shows buff, not yellow, on underparts.