The Common chiffchaff is a small bird with a clear, resonant voice. Its two-syllable song (“chiff-chaff”), which carries over long distances, signals the end of winter and the beginning of spring. We can hear it daily as we pass through woodland areas, with males singing from the branches of tall trees to ensure their song travels far.

Data from complete lists collected in Sout-eastern Europe show an increase in reports in February, while from March onwards it appears that the Common chiffchaff is reported much less frequently than in previous years. In Romania it becomes frequent from the beginning of April. Have you heard it recently? If so, don’t forget to make a complete list of all species heard and observed during your outing, as this provides much more information on species phenology.

If you do not know how to make a complete list, we have prepared an article where you can find everything you need to know.

Even for the most common species, such as the Common chiffchaff, complete lists help us understand yearly patterns and identify potential anomalies as they occur.