From Opus

Photo by Leon

Alternative name: Cape Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

[edit] Identification

14-16 cm long and weighing around 20 g. Brown upperparts, white supercilium and underparts, rufous wash to the flanks. The long, strong bill has a slightly down-curved upper mandible; it is blackish-yellow with a yellower base. Blue-grey legs, brown eyes. Adults of both sexes and juvenile birds are very similar in appearance.

[edit] Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa: From Nigeria, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia in the north, south to South Africa. Absent west of Nigeria.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris, is an 'Old World' Warbler with eight subspecies:

• A. g. gracilirostris;
• A. g. neglectus;
• A. g. jacksoni;
• A. g. tsanae;
• A. g. leptorhynchus;
• A. g. parvus;
• A. g. cunensis; and
• A. g. winterbottomi.

[edit] Habitat

Reedbeds in standing water.

[edit] Behaviour

It builds a deep, firm cup nest from strips of reed blades, grass and sedges, which is lined with finer grasses. 2-3 brown eggs are laid.

Diet includes insects and other small invertebrates, often taken from the water surface.

[edit] External Links