The Great Reed Warbler is a late-arriving long-distance migrant that leaves Sweden entirely during the winter half of the year.
Overwintering: it spends the winter in tropical Africa, far from the Swedish breeding reeds.
Absence: it is not seen in Sweden in winter — it is a decidedly summer visitor that arrives late in spring and quickly establishes a territory in the best reed stretches.
Season: the best chance of experiencing the species is from the middle of May to July, when the male sings its powerful, grating song from the reeds.