From Opus

Photo by rodriguejr
Photographed: Elvas, Portugal

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

[edit] Identification

16-20 cm

• Brown upperparts
• Buffy-white underparts
• Bold creamy supercillium
• Long thick bill
• Legs brown/grey or pinkish-brown

[edit] Similar Species

Much larger than Eurasian Reed Warbler and has a longer, thicker bill.

[edit] Distribution

Found in most of Africa, Europe, Middle East, India, and Asia including western Siberia and western China

[edit] Taxonomy

In the form recognized here, Great Reed Warbler has two subspecies: arundinaceus and zarudnyi belong together in one group. Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis is different enough that it has now been recognized as a separate species.

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

• A. a. arundinaceus:

• Europe to western Siberia, Turkey, northern Iran and north-western Africa; winters Africa

• A. a. zarudnyi:

• Northern Iraq and Iran to southern Afghanistan, Altai, north-western Mongolia and western China

[edit] Habitat

Dense reed beds beside lakes, rivers and canals.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

Nests colonially. A suspended, basket-shaped nest (similar to a Reed Warbler's) at the edge of the reeds near the water.

[edit] Flight

Long flight outline. Spreads the tail prior to landing. Dives headlong into the reeds. Hops; upright thrush-like posture on the ground.

[edit] Vocalisation

Song: very loud, harsh and sustained trr, trr, karra, karra karra, gurrk gurkk gurkk, krik krik krik, karra karra karra... etc

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

• List of references

[edit] External Links