Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala)
Family: Sylviidae.
Length: 13 to 14cm. Wingspan: 15 to 18cm. Weight: 10 to 14g. Lifespan: up to 5 years.
The Sardinian Warbler is one of the locally and common Mediterranean Warblers, although very rare further north of the Mediterranean range. It has been seen on very rare occasions, as a vagrant, into Southern England.
Habitat: Scrubland, open woodland with clearings of scrub, in village and small-town garden urbanisations, thickets with thorny growth.
Only seen in pairs or small family groups, never in large numbers. Breeds in the most southern countries of Europe and far East as Turkey.
Nesting: Small tidy made nest, usually found low in a densely covered bush; 3 to 5 eggs, 2 broods, April to July.
Flight: Short springy, low flights, mainly between well covered thickets and similar, low growing well covered shrubs and bushes for cover.
Voice: A fast, short and frequent rattling song, typically heard from most similar birds, around the Mediterranean countries.
Feeding: like most warblers, constantly looking for small insects, will also take various soft fruits and berries, to feed on.
Images below are of the male bird, the female has mainly brown plumage above, buff coloured plumage below with a grey head.