- Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Identification
12.5cm (5 in)
Brown with a rusty tinge. Paler underparts with a whitish throat. Thin brownish bill. Legs dark brown.
Juvenile is very similar to the adult but rather brighter with tawny-orange tints to upperparts. Legs flesh-coloured.
Similar Species
Marsh Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler, African Reed Warbler
Distribution
Europe,western Asia, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized[1]:
- A. s. scirpaceus:
- A. s. fuscus:
- East Mediterranean and Caspian to Kazakhstan; winters to southern Africa
- A. s. avicenniae:
- A. s. ammon:
avicenniae was formerly placed in African Reed Warbler, ammon is a recently described subspecies.
Habitat
Reedbeds and some bushes.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes mainly insects, though some berries are taken.
Breeding
A monogamous species.
They build a basket-like nest in reeds. The clutch consists of 3-5 eggs, which are pale greenish-white with dark specks or splotches. The young fledge after 10 or 11 days.
It is brood parasitised by the Common Cuckoo.
Vocalisation
Thread with links to both Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler songs for comparison
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Birdforum thread discussing Moroccan Reed Warblers
- The Observers Book of Birds' Eggs
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) Eurasian Reed Warbler. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 31 May 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Reed_Warbler
External Links
Reed Warbler Identification Thread
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.