Common Grasshopper Warbler
Locustella naevia
The common grasshopper warbler or just grasshopper warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and the western Palearctic.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_grasshopper_warbler
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Locustellidae
Genus
Locustella
Common Grasshopper Warbler belongs to the family Locustellidae, order Passeriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The common grasshopper warbler or just grasshopper warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the genus Locustella. It breeds across much of temperate Europe and the western Palearctic. It is migratory, wintering across northern tropical Africa just south of the Sahara, and also locally in India.
The Common Grasshopper Warbler faces significant population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of wetland and grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in land management practices have reduced the availability of suitable breeding and foraging habitats, while climate change may be affecting the timing of migration and breeding cycles.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Dense vegetation in wetlands, reedbeds, marshy areas, and rank grasslands with thick ground cover, typically near water sources. Also utilizes scrubland, young forestry plantations, and overgrown areas with dense understory vegetation during breeding season.
Threats
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agricultural intensification
Wetland drainage and degradation
Changes in grassland management practices
Climate change impacts on migration timing and breeding success
Urban and infrastructure development
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Common Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-grasshopper-warbler