The Common Reed Warbler is a small passerine with brown plumage streaked with black on the upperparts and cream-white on the underparts. It feeds mainly on insects and other small invertebrates, but may also include seeds in its diet. It migrates to sub-Saharan Africa during the winter. It prefers wetlands, such as reed beds and marshes, where it builds nests well hidden among the vegetation. The breeding season begins in the spring, and each clutch can contain up to 5–6 eggs.