Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

General information. The chiffchaff is a common bird in the southern parts of Finland but is rarely found further north than Oulu. It is easily spotted since it sings late into summer. The nesting population has decreased for decades but it is still fairly common in the southwestern parts of Finland.

• Length 11 cm
• Builds a spherical nest close to the ground in a juniper or young spruce tree. The nest can also be located on the ground
• Winters by the Mediterranean Sea, in northwestern Africa and south of the Sahara
• Feeds on insects and spiders

Habitat. The chiffchaff nests in both deciduous forests and spruce tree copses. Spruce forests with some deciduous trees provide the most favorable habitat for this bird. This species prefers old growth tree stands and generally avoids small tree copses.

Distribution in Vaasa. Observations indicating nesting chiffchaffs were made in a total of 163 survey blocks. It thrives in a diverse range of woodland areas accross Vaasa, from coppices, mixed type- to spruce forests.