Chiffchaff or willow warbler? How to tell the difference

Chiffchaffs and willow warblers migrate to our shores every spring. Do you know how to tell the difference? Both species are in the same family - phylloscopus warblers - so look extremely similar. Many people struggle to tell them apart, but it's possible if you know what to look and listen for. Here are our top tips.

Appearance 

Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita) and willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) both have greyish-green and white plumage with no striking features. They are small birds with slender legs and bill, but some small differences can help with ID.

Calls

Chiffchaffs and willow warblers have very different calls.

What does chiffchaff song sound like?

Chiffchaffs sound like they're saying their own name.

Listen to the distinctive song of a chiffchaff

What does willow warbler song sound like?

Willow warblers sing a tinkling, descending phrase that ends in a slight flourish. This is repeated endlessly by birds arriving in the spring.

Listen to the distinctive song of a willow warbler

Habitat

Tell us when you see chiffchaff and willow warbler

The Nature’s Calendar project tracks the effects of weather and climate change on wildlife across the UK – its records date all the way back to 1736! Chiffchaffs and willow warblers arriving in the UK are just two of 69 wildlife species recorded for the project.

From previous years' data, we would expect to start seeing chiffchaffs from early March and willow warblers from early April.

Join Nature’s Calendar to record your sightings - every record is crucial and valid. The data recorded helps us to better understand the effects of climate change and other patterns in the natural environment. By taking just a few minutes to share what you see, you'll be adding to hundreds of years' worth of important data. We couldn't do this work without you!