Cetti’s Warbler

📍 Local Expert Tip

“The Cetti’s Warbler is a relatively recent coloniser from the Continent and can be reliably found at Brooklands Park, along the stream and around the lake, where its explosive call gives away its location. Good views are few and far between however as it is a notorious skulker in thick bushes.”

🔍 Overview

A loud voice with a secretive nature, Cetti’s Warbler has expanded into Sussex in recent decades. Often heard rather than seen, it lurks in dense scrub near water.

🪶 Key Identification Features

Size: Small (13–14 cm)
Plumage: Warm brown overall
Distinctive Marks: Rounded tail often flicked, no eye-ring
Bill: Fine and pointed
Tail: Often cocked
Flight: Short bursts through cover

🗺️ Habitat & Distribution

Common around wet reedbeds, lakes, and damp scrub — e.g. Adur Valley, Brooklands, and Woods Mill

🎶 Voice & Behaviour

Very loud, explosive song: “CHIP-chip-chip-chet-chet-chet!” Heard year-round, often from deep cover.

🍴 Diet

Insects and larvae taken from dense vegetation.

📸 Birding Tip

Learn its song — it’s often your only clue. Wait patiently near reedbeds in spring or early morning for glimpses.