The adult has an unstreaked grey-brown back, whitish grey underparts and a lack of throat streaks, which is a distinction from the river warbler.

It is similar to the song of other species in the group, but is generally faster and deeper and bears a strong resemblance to that of Roesel's bush-cricket.

It winters in West Africa in an area stretching from Senegal to Lake Chad and northern Ghana, and probably also in South Sudan.

[5] L. l. sarmatica is native to Ukraine, the Sea of Azov, the Volga region and the Urals; it winters in Northeastern Africa.

L. l. fusca is found from Jordan and Turkey as far east as central Asia; it winters in Sudan and Ethiopia.

After breeding the birds disperse somewhat to less densely vegetated fens, moult into their winter plumage and depart on their migration.

Little is known of their habits in their winter quarters but they occupy similar swampy areas, have been seen in cornfields and may feed and roost in small flocks.

[7] The breeding season for Savi's warbler starts in mid-April in the southern part of its range and at the end of May in Northern Europe.

They are greyish-white, liberally speckled with greyish rusty-coloured spots, sometimes in a darker band round the egg.

[7] Savi's warbler breeds in Algeria, Spain, Mallorca, France, Sicily, Crete, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Jordan, Turkey and Russia as far east as the River Volga.

It is known as an occasional visitor to the United Kingdom (where a few pairs breed sporadically), Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta, Cyprus and Israel.

It occupies similar habitats in its winter quarters but may also be found in fens or marshy locations with open water away from reeds.

Numbers of birds may be decreasing somewhat but not to the extent that would warrant listing Savi's warbler under a higher risk category.