Blyth's Reed Warblers are best identified by their songs but a silent bird may be picked out as being duller than a Reed warbler with a more obvious pale line from the eye to the bill. To eliminate both Marsh Warbler and Reed Warbler, check for dark legs, plain tertials, rather bunched up primaries or hope it either sings or calls.

Breeds in copses of willow or alder, sometimes close to lakes or marshes but also in parks and gardens.

A very rare vagrant to Britain, with most records coming from the Northern Isles in autumn. 28 records up to the end of 1995.

The area around Parikkala is probably the best-known site in Europe but in fact they are now widespread throughout southern Finland as far north as Kuusamo and they can also be reliably found singing around Uppsala (Sweden). Don't look for them in reedbeds or even, necessarily, in waterside bushes since they are just as likely to be in parks and gardens.

©BirdGuides 1999