Wild Birds

Grasshopper Warbler Decline and Scrub Habitat

The grasshopper warbler is a secretive summer migrant famous for its reeling song, yet its UK population has collapsed as suitable young scrub and tussock grassland habitats have been lost.

Key Facts

UK grasshopper warbler numbers fell by around 50% between 1970 and 2016
The species requires young scrub, rush pasture, and tussocky grassland at early succession stages
Its reeling song, resembling a fishing reel, can last for hours without pause
Grasshopper warblers are highly secretive and rarely seen despite their loud song
They winter in West Africa, making them vulnerable to conditions across a vast flyway

Welfare Considerations

Grasshopper warblers suffer welfare impacts when scrub is managed to maturity or grassland is improved agriculturally, eliminating the early successional habitat on which they depend. On migration, they face increasing desert crossing difficulty as the Sahel desiccates under climate change. Maintaining suitable habitat requires active management cycles, not simply land abandonment.

What You Can Do

Support agri-environment schemes that create and maintain tussocky grass margins
Advocate for rotational scrub management that maintains early successional patches
Record grasshopper warbler singing males during the BTO breeding bird survey
Back conservation projects protecting Sahel wintering habitat in West Africa
Join Wildlife Trust volunteering programs that involve habitat management for ground-nesting birds