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.