from end of May is the "buzz" of the Feldschwirls to hear in our widths particularly in the morning and twilight; it is a monotonous, though forceful chant, that can be recited consecutively without interruption several minutes. The chant reminds of the tone-remarks of the big green katydids (type Tettigonia), that are to however only much later be heard in the year. Then, the Feldschwirl often left long ago its brood-precinct once again.
Shape Roved the 13 cm big, brown Feldschwirl brown on the back, the underside is brownish-white. The tail is long and rounded.
Way of life The Feldschwirl lives hidden in the dense plant-tangle as distinct ground-bird, runs fast over the ground like a mouse there and looks for insects and their larvae. Only to singing, it looks for one somewhat elevated location for himself on a strong stalk or low branches. it is to be located heavily there, however, because it turns the head of a side during the sings to the other. it twitches on that occasion with the whole body. So it delimits its precinct and lures females into its proximity. it then pursues a female around-pecking in the dense Bodenbewuchs with a grass-stalk or a leaf in the beak; it flaps the wings ("Bodentrippelbalz") slowly on that occasion.
Reproduction Both partners build in moors and swamps, on clearings, grassland and heaths, in sterns and young protections or even in dunes its bowl-shaped nest. It is woven loosely from withered grass and stalks and is directly at the ground on a foliage-base or few centimeter over it; usually, it is to be reached from the birds only through one "alley."
The 6 whiten, violet or violet-brown speckled eggs are hatched by both spouses in 13-15 days. Until the boys become fully-fledged after 10-12 days, care is taken (nest-stools) of them by the parents. The boys be bedunt, the pharynx and the Randwülste of the beak at head and backs yellow. Differently than with grass-singers and tube-singers (warblers), they carry three dark points on the tongue, that is clearly recognizable in the Sperrachen.
Spread The Feldschwirle live in means and Southern Europe as brood-birds, Eastern Europe as far as to Siberia and is very high here and there to find in the mountains. As distinct migratory birds, they can move in to spending the winter as far as to North-Africa and southwest-Asia.
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