Brown emu-tail

Dromaeocercus brunneus

Photo by Maria Stringer (Pinterest)

Common name:
brown emu-tail (en); felosa-dos-juncos-rabilonga (pt); droméocerque brun (fr); yerbera colilarga (es); Madagaskarbuschsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Madagascar, being found along the eastern slopes of the islands.

Size:
These birds are 15 cm long.

Habitat:
The brown emu-tail is found in dense undergrowth of moist tropical forests, at altitudes of 500-2.500 m.

Diet:
They feed on small insects collected among the vegetation.

Breeding:
They nest among dense vegetation, near the ground. Each clutch consists of 2 eggs. there is no further information regarding the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as locally fairly common to abundant. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction.

White-browed tit-warbler

Leptopoecile sophiae

Photo by Andrey Kovalenko (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
white-browed tit-warbler (en); chapim-de-Sophie (pt); mésange de Sophie (fr); carbonerito de Sophie (es); purpurhähnchen (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found in central China and along the Himalayas mountain range into north-western China, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and marginally into northern India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

Size:
These birds are 8,5-10 cm long and weigh 6-8 g.

Habitat:
The white-browed tit-warbler is found in mountain temperate forests and scrublands, at altitudes of 2.200-5.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt small insects, including butterflies, gasshoppers and flies, and spiders, while also taking some seeds and berries during autumn and winter.
Breeding:
These birds breed in April-August. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of  a domed structure with an entrance near the top, made of moss, grass stems, hairy seeds animal hair, which is lined with the feathers and hairs, and placed in a scrub, up to 3 m above the ground. The female lays 4-6 whitish eggs with reddish-brown spots which are incubated by both sexes for 16-23 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-21 days.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Taiwan bush-warbler

Bradypterus alishanensis

Photo by Josep del Hoyo (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Taiwan bush-warbler (en); felosa-dos-juncos-da-Formosa (pt); bouscarle de Taïwan (fr); zarzalero de Formosa (es); Taiwanbuschsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Taiwan, being found in the central and eastern mountains of the island.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long and weigh around 10 g.

Habitat:
The Taiwan bush-warbler is mostly found in high-altitude grasslands, also using bamboo thickets and dry scrublands in mountain slopes, forest clearings and arable land. they occur at altitudes of 1.200-3.000 m.

Diet:
They are believed to be exclusively insectivorous.

Breeding:
These birds breed in May-July. They nest in a cup of woven grasses, well hidden among tall grasses, where the female lays 2 eggs. There is no available information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as quite common with a population estimated to be in the range of 10.000-100.000 breeding pairs. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Greater swamp-warbler

Acrocephalus rufescens

(Photo from Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
greater swamp-warbler (en); rouxinol-grande-dos-pântanos (pt); rousserolle des cannes (fr); carricero rufo (es); papyrusrohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, with four disjunct subspecies. The subspecies A.r. sengalensis is found in Senegal and Gambia, A.r. rufescens is found from Ghana to the northern Central African Republic and north-western D.R. Congo, A.r. chadensis is found around Lake Chad, and A.r. ansorgei is found from southern South Sudan, through Uganda, western Kenya and eastern D.R. Congo, and into north-western Angola, Zambia, northern Botswana, north-eastern Namibia and western Zimbabwe.

Size:
These birds are 16-18 cm long and weigh 22-24 g.

Habitat:
The greater swamp-warbler is found in inland wetlands, such as Cyperus papyrus swamps, reedbeds, Typha stands, wet elephant grass and along river banks, also using seasonaly flooded agricultural fields.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, including beetle larvae, moths and their larvae, damsel flies and other aquatic insects, but also take small frogs.

Breeding:
Greater swamp-warblers can breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. The nest is a deep cup made of papyrus and other reed leaves, attached to a number of papyrus stems, usually 1-2,5 m above the water level. There the female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as scarce to locally common, with an estimated global population of 2,9 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats. In some areas local destruction of swamps may be cause for concern for this species.

Millerbird

Acrocephalus familiaris

Photo by R. Kohley (Wikipedia)

Common name:
millerbird (en); felosa-do-Hawai (pt); rousserolle obscure (fr); carricero hawaiano (es); Hawaii-rohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the steep, rocky island of Nihoa in the north-western Hawaiian Islands.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long ad weigh 15-21,5 g.

Habitat:
The millerbird is found in dense, moist scrublands, particularly around Sida fallax, Solanum nelsonii and Chenopodium oahuense.

Diet:
They feed on various small arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars and moths, spiders, roaches, ants, bugs, grasshoppers, flies and pseudoscorpions.

Breeding:
Millerbirds breed in January-September. the nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a deep cup placed among dense scrubs. The female lays 2 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 14-17 days. The chicks fledge about 14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)
This species has an extremely small breeding range and a global population estimated at 250-1.000 individuals. Existing data does suggest that millerbird numbers on Nihoa have experienced pronounced fluctuations and have likely ranged between fewer than 50 and more than 800 individuals. The species is suffering extensive and strikingly low levels of genetic diversity as a result of recent severe bottlenecks caused by climatic events, anthropogenic influences and the introduction of exotic mammals, plants and insects. There was also a population on the island of Laysan, which became extinct in the early 20th century due to the introduction of rabbits and livestock, which denuded the island of vegetation. Severe weather events, diseases and the effect of grasshopper outbreaks on the island's vegetation are all relevant threats for the millerbird. At present, access to Nihoa is strictly controlled to avoid the accidental introduction of new species via seeds, eggs or arthropods travelling on clothes and equipment. A translocation programme is currently in progress with first birds having been released in Laysan in 2011 and having bread successfully.

Common newtonia

Newtonia brunneicauda

Photo by David Cook (Flickr)

Common name:
common newtonia (en); newtonia-comum (pt); newtonie commune (fr); newtonia común (es); rostbauchnewtonie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Madagascar, being found throughout the country.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long and weigh 7-14 g.

Habitat:
The common newtonia is mostly found in the undergrowth of both moist and dry tropical forests, also using scrublands and mangroves.

Diet:
They feed on small arthropods, including spiders, beetles, cockroaches, bugs and flies.

Breeding:
Common newtonias breed in July-March. The nest is a deep cup hidden in low vegetation. There is no further information regarding the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as very common in native forests throughout Madagascar. There is no information regarding population trends.

Knysna warbler

Bradypterus sylvaticus

Photo by Trevor Hardaker (Trevor and Margaret Hardaker)

Common name:
Knysna warbler (en); felosa-de-Knysna (pt); bouscarle de Knysna (fr); zarzalero del Knysna (es); Kapbuschsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to South Africa, being restricted to a few coastal patches in the Eastern and Western Cape regions, namely the coast between Port St. Johns and Dwesa Nature Reserve, the Southern Cape, from Tsitsikamma to Sedgefield, the south slopes of the Langeberg Mountains, near Swellendam, and the east slopes of Table Mountain.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 16-21 g.

Habitat:
The Knysna warbler is mostly found in dense undergrowth of moist temperate forests and native fynbos dry scrublands, particularly along watercourses and drainage lines, but also uses non-native bramble Rubus sp. thickets and suburban areas.

Diet:
They feed mainly on the ground, taking grasshoppers, insect larvae, spiders, slugs, worms, woodlice, cockroaches, earwigs, stick insects and crane flies.

Breeding:
Knysna warblers breed in August-December. They are monogamous, solitary nesters, and the female builds the nest alone. The nest is a thick-walled cup made of dry grass and narrow-bladed leaves, constructed on a platform of dead and dying leaves and lined with finer plant material. The female lays 2-3 pinkish white eggs with reddish speckles and spots, which she incubates alone for 16-19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 12-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a relatively small and fragmented breeding range and the global population is estimated at 2.500-10.000 individuals. The overall population is suspected to be declining, with a decrease of over 50% in the Cape peninsula, and the extirpation of the population in Durban due to habitat loss and degradation. Habitat loss is mainly caused by the clearance of coastal forests, while the lack of a natural fire regime may also prove detrimental, as fynbos vegetation may eventually become replaced by forest and the understorey vegetation required for nesting may become more sparse. Removal of non-native brambles, the subject of several eradication campaigns, may ironically have negative impacts, and inbreeding depression may become a problem, particularly in the tiny, fragmented Eastern Cape sub-population.

Slaty-bellied tesia

Tesia olivea

Photo by Christoph Moning (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
slaty-bellied tesia (en); tesia-de-barriga-ardósia (pt); tésie à ventre ardoise (fr); tesia pizarrosa (es); goldscheiteltesia (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found from eastern Nepal and extreme north-eastern India to southern China, and south to Myanmar, north-western Thailand, northern Laos and northern Vietnam.

Size:
These birds are 9-10 cm long and weigh 6-9 g.

Habitat:
The slaty-bellied tesia is mostly found in dense undergrowth of moist tropical forests, usually favouring damp areas. They also use freshwater marshes, rivers and streams.

Diet:
They feed on adult and larval insects and other invertebrates.

Breeding:
There is no available information regarding the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Clamorous reed-warbler

Acrocephalus stentoreus

Photo by Lior Kislev (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
clamorous reed-warbler (en); rouxinol-retumbante (pt); rousserolle stentor (fr); carricero estentóreo (es); stentorrohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found from eastern Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, through the Arabian Peninsula and Iran in to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. Also in northern India, Sri Lanka, from southern China and Myanmar to Thailand, in the Philippines and in southern Indonesia, Papua-New Guinea and Australia. They are mostly resident, but populations in central Asia migrate south to winter across the Indian subcontinent.

Size:
These birds are 18-20 cm long and weigh 20-25 g.

Habitat:
The clamorous reed-warbler is most found in reedbeds, Papyrus and other tall vegetation in marshes, swamps, freshwater lakes and rivers. They also use moist scrublands and grasslands , and moist tropical forests. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on various invertebrates such as dragonflies, beetles, grasshoppers and spiders.

Breeding:
Clamorous reed-warblers are socially monogamous, but males may attempt to father the offspring of several females. The female builds the nest alone, consisting of a deep cup made of reeds and placed above water in dense vegetation. The female lays 3-6 eggs, which she incubates alone for about 2 weeks. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 11-13 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common to abundant in much of this range, although uncommon in Myanmar and the Philippines. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Rufous-vented warbler

Sylvia subcaerulea

Photo by Marco Valentini (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rufous-vented warbler (en); toutinegra-dos-bosques (pt); fauvette grignette (fr); curruca sureña (es); meisengrasmücke (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This African species is found from southern Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe to South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 16 g.

Habitat:
The rufous-vented warbler is mostly found in dry savannas and scrublands, especially along drainage lines, but also uses rural gardens.

Diet:
They mainly glean insects and other arthropods from the foliage, namely caterpillars, termites, beetles, ants, mantids and ticks. They also take some fruits, seeds and the nectar of Aloe plants.

Breeding:
Rufous-vented warblers nest in a thin cup made of dry grass, rootlets and strips of silk bark, secured with spider web. It is typically placed in the branches of a scrub or small tree, or occasionally on a mistletoe. there the female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 13-16 days. the chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as relatively common and widespread in favourable habitat throughout this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Willow warbler

Phylloscopus trochilus

Photo by Arend Wassink (Birds of Kazakhstan)

Common name:
willow warbler (en); felosa-musical (pt); pouillot fitis (fr); mosquitero musical (es); fitis (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species throughout most of Europe and northern Asia, from the northern Iberian Peninsula and the British Isles to northern Scandinavia and east through Poland and the Ukraine into most of Russia as far as the pacific coast and south to northern Kazakhstan and marginally into Mongolia. they migrate south and south-west to winter throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Size:
These birds are 11-12,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 17-22 cm. They weigh 6-15 g.

Habitat:
The willow warbler is found breeding in a wide range of habitats, including deciduous and mixed forests in both temperate and boreal areas, forest clearings, open scrubby woodlands, scrublands, plantations, orchards and gardens. Outside the breeding season they also use mangroves, tropical forests, dry grasslands and savannas, swamps and lakes. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.000 m.

Diet:
They feed mainly on small insects and spiders, as well as their eggs and larvae. Outside the breeding season fruits, berries and other plant materials are also an important part of their diet.

Breeding:
Willow warblers breed in April-August. The nest is built mostly by the female, consisting of a domed structure made of dry grass, leaves, stems, moss, lichen, twigs and bark woven together, and lined with animal hair and feathers. It is usually placed on the ground, well concealed among grass or at the base of a scrub or tree. Occasionally, the willow warbler may place the nest in a tree, crevice or creeper, up to 5 m above the ground. The female lays 4-8 glossy white eggs with reddish-brown speckles, which she mainly incubates alone for 10-16 days. The chicks are fed mostly by the female and fledge 11-15 days after hatching, becoming fully independent 2 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population roughly estimated at 340-1.200 million individuals. In Europe, populations have undergone a moderate decline over the last 3 decades.

Japanese bush-warbler

Cettia diphone

Photo by Mathew Poll (Birds Korea)

Common name:
Japanese bush-warbler (en); rouxinol-bravo-japonês (pt); bouscarle chanteuse (fr); ruiseñor bastardo japonés (es); Japanbuschsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found throughout Japan, and also in Korea, north-eastern and eastern China, extreme south-eastern Russia, Taiwan and in the northern Philippines. There is also an introduced population in Hawaii.

Size:
These birds are 14-16,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 20-22 cm. They weigh 15-22 g.

Habitat:
The Japanese bush-warbler is found in bamboo thickets, grasslands and pine forests.

Diet:
They feed mainly on insects, such as flies, beetles, moths and grasshoppers, but also take worms, berries and fruits.

Breeding:
These birds breed in April-September. The female builds the nest, consisting of a cup made of twigs, leaves and moss. She lays 4-5 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by the female alone and fledge 12-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as uncommon to fairly common. The populations in Japan, China and Korea are each estimated at 10.000-100.000 breeding pairs. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Cape grass-warbler

Sphenoeacus afer

Photo by Carmelo López (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Cape grass-warbler (en); felosa-do-Cabo (pt); sphénoèque du Cap (fr); yerbera de El Cabo (es); Kapgrassänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found in southern eastern and north-eastern South Africa and also along the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Size:
These birds are 17-19 cm long and weigh 30 g.

Habitat:
The Cape grass-warbler is mostly found in high-altitude grasslands, but also uses fynbos scrublands and the edges of mountain forests.

Diet:
They forage mostly on the ground beneath vegetation, taking insects such as beetles, grasshoppers and caterpillars.

Breeding:
Cape grass-warblers breed in July-April, varying between different parts of their range. The nest is built by the female, consisting of a bowl made of twigs, grass blades and leaves, and lined with finer plant material. It is typically concealed near the ground in a tussock of grass or in some tangled vegetation. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which she incubates alone for 14-8 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Fairy warbler

Stenostira scita

Photo by Trevor Hardaker (Trevor and Margaret Hardaker)

Common name:
fairy warbler (en); papa-moscas-d'asa-branca (pt); mignard enchanteur (fr); papamoscas duende (es); elfenschnäpper (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This African species breeds in southern South Africa and Lesotho. Part of the population migrates north to winter as far as southern Namibia and southern Botswana.

Size:
These small birds are 11-12 cm long and weigh 4-8 g.

Habitat:
The fairy warbler is mostly found in scrublands, namely karoo and fynbos, also using grasslands, Acacia savannas, plantations and gardens.

Diet:
They feed on small insects and other arthropods, namely flies, bugs, beetles, wasps, ants and spiders. They hunt by sallying out from a perch or by gleaning their prey from flowers.

Breeding:
Fairy warblers can breed all year round, but with a peak in September-October. The female builds the nest alone, an open cup built of dry grass stems and other plant matter, such as slangbos Stoebe sp., honeythorns Lycium sp. and wild Asparagus sp. Sometimes they also use rubbish and even human hair. The nest is typically placed in a fork of a branch or against the trunk of a tree, mainly Acacia. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 13-16 days. The chicks are mainly fed by the female and fledge 15-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status -  LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be rare to common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Dusky warbler

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Photo by Sergey Pisarevskiy (Flickr)

Common name:
dusky warbler (en); felosa-sombria (pt); pouillot brun (fr); mosquitero sombrío (es); dunkellaubsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species breeds in northern Asia, from Siberia to eastern Russia, Mongolia, northern and central China, Korea and the eastern parts of the Himalayas. They migrate south to winter in south-east Asia.

Size:
These birds are 10-12,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 17-18 cm. They weigh about 12 g.

Habitat:
The dusky warbler is mostly found in scrublands and the understorey of boreal forests, and also in grasslands, marshes and bogs and vegetation along rivers. During winter they also use mangroves and arable land.

Diet:
They are mostly insectivorous, but also take small berries.

Breeding:
Dusky warblers breed in May-August. The nest is a small cup placed low in a scrub, where the female lays 4-6 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 11-13 days and the chicks fledge 12-14 days after hatching. Each pair raises a single brood per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Seychelles warbler

Acrocephalus sechellensis

Photo by Terje Kolaas (Flickr)

Common name:
Seychelles warbler (en); felosa-das-Seychelles (pt); rousserolle des Seychelles (fr); carricero de Seychelles (es); Seychellen-rohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to the Seychelles archipelago. At present they are only found in the islands of Cousin, Aride, Cousine and Denis.

Size:
These birds are 14 cm long and weigh 15-17 g.

Habitat:
The Seychelles warbler is found in most tropical scrublands with large Pisonia grandis and Ficus reflexa trees.

Diet:
They feed on a variety of insects, including bugs and their eggs, beetles, bees and ants, but also spiders and, occasionally, small skins and geckos.

Breeding:
The Seychelles warbler is monogamous and mates for life. They have a cooperative breeding system, with helpers, usually the daughters from previous broods, helping defend the territory, build the nest, incubate the eggs and feed the young. They breed in June February. The female lays a single egg, which is incubated for 15 days. The chick fledges 14 days after hatching but may continue to receive food from the parents and helpers for several months.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species was an extremely small breeding range and a global population estimated at 1.700 individuals. The Seychelles warbler was originally found in several islands in the Seychelles, but human disturbance, habitat destruction and predation by introduced predator lead them to disappear in all islands except Cousin. Even in that island, the population reach an all time low of less than 30 individuals in the 1960s, but has since recovered thanks to
favourable management and conservation policies. In Cousin, management included the regeneration of Pisonia woodlands, and cessation of intensive management of coconut Cocos nucifera plantations. The islands of Aride, Denis and Cousine were also the target of habitat management and predator control, and have been populated successfully with birds from Cousin. These conservation efforts and considerable population recovery make the Seychelles warbler a great success case for nature conservation.

Rufous songlark

Cincloramphus mathewsi

Photo by Deane Lewis (Australian Nature Photography)

Common name:
rufous songlark (en); rouxinol-de-Mathews (pt); mégalure de Mathews (fr); yerbera de Mathews (es); rostbürzel-lerchensänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Australia, being found throughout the country although the northernmost areas are only used during winter.

Size:
These bird are 16-19 cm long and weigh 30 g.

Habitat:
The rufous songlark is mostly found in dry grasslands and savannas, but can also be found in dry scrublands and arable land.

Diet:
They forage mostly on the ground, taking insects and other small arthropods.

Breeding:
Rufous songlarks breed in December-March. The female builds the nest, a deep cup of grass, placed on the ground among thick grass or other low vegetation, where she lays 2-3 eggs. The female incubates the eggs alone for 11 days and also raises the chicks on her own. There is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Yellow flycatcher-warbler

Chloropeta natalensis

Photo by Chris Krog (Stellenbosch Birds)

Common name:
yellow flycatcher-warbler (en); felosa-amarela-africana (pt); chloropète jaune (fr); cloropeta común (es); schnäpperrohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, being patchily distributed from from Nigeria east to Ethiopia, south through eastern D.R. Congo, Angola and Zambia, and into north-eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 12 g.

Habitat:
The yellow flycatcher-warbler is mostly found in moist scrublands along watercourses, and also along the edges of reedbeds and moist tropical forests and in wet grasslands.

Diet:
They mostly glean caterpillars from dense vegetation, but also hawks termite alates from a perch.

Breeding:
Yellow flycatcher-warblers breed in September-March. They nest in a cup made of grass blades,  typically placed between upright stems or in the fork of a scrub, up to 2 m above the ground. There the female incubates 2-3 eggs which she incubates alone for 12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-16 days after hatching, becoming independent 1 month later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common in parts of this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Eurasian reed-warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Photo by Patrick Palmen (Birds of Kazakhstan)

Common name:
Eurasian reed-warbler (en); rouxinol-pequeno-dos-caniços (pt); rousserolle effarvatte (fr); carricero cómun (es); teichrohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species is found throughout Europe, as far north as southern Scandinavia, into central Asia as far east as Kazakhstan and also in sub-Saharan Africa as far south as South Africa. the population in Europe and Asia migrate south to winter in sub-Saharan Africa.

Size:
These birds are 13 cm long and have a wingspan of 17-21 cm. They weigh 10-15 g.

Habitat:
The Eurasian reed-warbler is mostly found in reed beds along the shores of lakes, fish ponds, ditches and rivers, but can also occur in drier habitats, such as scrublands, grasslands and dry savannas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.400 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on insects, spiders and small snails, collected from the vegetation or on the ground, but also eat fruits, seeds and flowers.

Breeding:
The breeding season varies along their range. They are monogamous and nest in loose colonies. The female builds the nest, a deep cup neatly weaved with reed blades, flowers, grass stems and plant down. the nest is typically placed over water, attached to a reed on scrub. There she lays 3-5 which are incubated by both sexes for 9-13 days. The chicks are fed by both sexes and fledge 10-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 11-30 million individuals. The population in Europe have undergone a moderate decline over the last 3 decades, but there is no trend data for the rest of their range.

Asian stubtail

Urosphena squameiceps

Photo by Robin Newlin (Birds Korea)

Common name:
Asian stubtail (en); rouxinol-rabicurto (pt); bouscarle de Swinhoe (fr); colirobusto de cabeza escamosa (es); kurzschwanz-buschsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Sylviidae

Range:
This species breeds in Japan, Korea and marginally into south-eastern Russia and north-eastern China. They migrate south to winter in southern China, Taiwan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

Size:
These birds are 9,5-10,5 cm long and weigh 7,5-11,5 g.

Habitat:
The Asian stubtail breeds in temperate deciduous forests and scrublands, often along rivers and streams. Outsise the breeding season they are mostly found in moist tropical forests, but also in dry grasslands, scrublands and marshes.

Diet:
They mainly feed on the ground and among scrubs, hunting for insects, such as beetles, and other small invertebrates.

Breeding:
Asian stubtails breed in May- July. They are mostly monogamous, but some cases of polygamy have been recorded. The nest is built by the female, in a hole under dead fallen wood, under living trees or in the stream banks. There she lays 5-6 pale pink eggs with pinkish red or reddish brown blotches. The female incubates the eggs alone for 13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 7-9 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, it is reported to be locally common, with estimates of 10.000-100.000 breeding pairs in China, Korea and Japan. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.