Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus breeds from Western Europe to Central Asia, with fuscus in northern Xinjiang. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa. Breeds among tall reeds, upon which it climbs nimbly. Separated with difficulty from Blyth’s reed warbler. Has dull creamy supercilium, most distinct in front of eye, and a brownish eye-stripe. Crown and upperparts olive-brown, with rufous tinge to rump and uppertail coverts. Underparts creamy white, throat and chin cleaner white; flanks buff. Bill brown above, yellow below; feet grey-brown. Song distinct from that of Blyth’s, being simpler, softer, and slower-paced. Blyth’s also is much more arboreal, has short, blunt wings, and lacks a rufous tinge to rump and uppertail coverts. — Craig Brelsford
THE REED WARBLERS OF CHINA
shanghaibirding.com covers most of the species in China in the family Acrocephalidae. Click any link:
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Oriental Reed Warbler A. orientalis
Clamorous Reed Warbler A. stentoreus
Black-browed Reed Warbler A. bistrigiceps
Moustached Warbler A. melanopogon
Sedge Warbler A. schoenobaenus
Speckled Reed Warbler A. sorghophilus
Blunt-winged Warbler A. concinens
Manchurian Reed Warbler A. tangorum
Paddyfield Warbler A. agricola
Blyth’s Reed Warbler A. dumetorum
Eurasian Reed Warbler A. scirpaceus
Thick-billed Warbler Arundinax aedon
Booted Warbler Iduna caligata
Sykes’s Warbler I. rama
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler I. pallida
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
