What bird marks the start of Spring for you? For me it’s the Chiffchaff.
It’s always a thrill to see and hear summer migrants returning to this country after they have spent the winter in warmer climes. The first summer migrant to arrive in Belgium is always the Chiffchaff.
I was walking through my local woodland yesterday and was delighted to hear the first Chiffchaff of the year. This little warbler has one of the most tuneless songs – basically a two-note ditty – but it brings me such delight when I first hear it. It marks the end of winter and the start of Spring.
Interestingly, this is literally the case. The Chiffchaff always seemed to time its first appearance very close to the first day of Spring, so March 20, 21 or 22. This year though, I heard the first Chiffchaff on March 15: the earliest date I have ever heard one. That’s the effect of climate change. It will soon be over-wintering here, which has happened with its cousin the Blackcap Warbler.
So what does the Chiffchaff look and sound like? I don’t have a photo of one as they are (a) small, (b) secretive, and (c) fond of singing away at the very top of a tree. So here’s one from a more successful Chiffchaff photographer:
You stand more chance of hearing one than seeing one, and here is it’s unmistakable song:
Well, I did warn you that it’s not going to hit the top of the bird song charts. But I’m sure you immediately realized that the bird is named onomatopoeically for its simple chiff-chaff song. It works in other languages too: Dutch tjiftjaf, German Zilpzalp, Welsh siff-saff and Finnish tiltaltti.
Let me know (if you live where Chiffchaffs live) if and when you hear the first Chiffchaff. Or what bird for you is the first sign of Spring where you live?
Denzil Nature 
The first sign of spring is surely the singing of birds also here. Too early for the Chiffchaff, though. We are happy with Tits, right now. 😉
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I guess they are heading in your direction as we speak! Do you get cranes in your area of Finland?
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Sure. Cranes usually arrive in April. Eurasian curlews and Lapwings are among the first anyway.
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I love the sound of the curlew! You are lucky. They don’t breed where I live.
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The Lapwings have a unique and captivating voice too, in the mating season. 😊
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Indeed. We get a few pairs nesting in the local fields, but I get nervous for them when I see the crows looking hungrily at them.
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I haven’t heard a chiffchaff yet. But I have heard my first spring-marker: a woodpecker doing its thing in the nearby woodlands.
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Ah yes, that is another glorious Spring sound, for sure!
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Nice blog Denzil – great to have the sound recording. Chiffchaffs in abundance in southern Spain in January but they haven’t arrived here in any numbers in the south west of England yet.
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Thanks Martin. It’s certainly interesting to see how climate change is affecting birds. I think in the SW of England you have been seeing more cattle egrets on the estuaries, is that right?
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Yes we are seeing Cattle Egrets further inland too. When I was young it was a rarity to see a little egret; now we regularly have little, great and cattle. Cranes too.
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All splendid birds to photograph!
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For us it is robins. My friend and I saw two last week on a stroll near Monona Bay.
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Those are smart looking birds indeed. A welcome sight of Spring.
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Two year-round resident birds here are the Bewick’s Wren and the House Finch. I’ve heard their spring songs for a few weeks now.
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I had to look up these as I am not familiar with them Audrey. It seems the Bewick’s Wren is similar to our Eurasian Wren, and with a similar song. The House Finch certainly looks pretty in its pink plumage. It’s fascinating to see different but similar birds in different continents.
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A very sweet creature! 😊
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Indeed Tom. A small bird with a loud voice.
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Beautiful bird Denzil and thinking today of my Irish uncle r.I.p. who used to know all the local bird sounds ‘ah, that’s the ……’
In Ireland the cuckoo always welcomed back the spring but in my uncle’s later years I used to hear him saying ‘not much word from the cuckoo these days’.
Happy St Patrick’s day Denzil and thank you for sharing such a beautiful post.
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I’ve never heard of the chiffchaff before. Don’t know if we get them in South Africa.
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Looking at their range, you don’t get them in South Africa Aletta.
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I thought so!
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No chiffchaffs here, Denzel, but I saw the first Robin yesterday, a sure sign of spring in Washington’s inland northwest! The chiffchaff song is quite dainty!
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That’s good to hear Terri; your Robin is a smart looking bird.
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