Common Reed Warbler

The Common Reed Warbler is the most common of our aquatic warblers, which are recognized by their sharp profile (Acrocephalus), round tail at the end, and long undertail coverts. It frequents reed beds with phragmites during the breeding season.
Both sexes are identical.
In fresh plumage, the adult has quite warm upper parts, a dark, muted brown. A clear russet tone is visible on the lower back, rump, and coverts. The front of the crown is slightly darker. The pale fringes of the remiges contrast with the dark centers of these, breaking the uniformity of the plumage. The primary projection is medium, about equal to 2/3 of the length of the tertiaries. The short, cream-russet eyebrow, clear in front of the eye, does not continue behind or is indistinct. It is highlighted by the front of the crown, a little darker than the rest and underlined by a dark loreal line. The eye is surrounded by a white eye ring broken in front and in the back. The lower parts are light. The flanks and sides of the chest are strongly infiltrated with chamois. The throat is white, a character that appears well when singing. The underside of the wings, the axillars and the undertail coverts are chamois-cream. The upper mandible is dark horn gray while the lower mandible is of a more or less vivid yellow. The legs are of a brownish colour and appear dark on the ground. The plant of the feet is dull yellow. The iris is light brown.
In worn plumage (June-September for most birds), the adult upper parts become more grey-brown and the lower parts pale.
The juvenile has much redder new plumage than the adult and its legs are greyer. It then looks very much like the other young reed warblers, Verderolle in particular, which can lead to confusion.