Warbler, Lake Hawassa Ethiopia (1 Viewer)

volker sthamer

Well-known member

• Mar 11, 2018

• #1

Would be great if someone could help me with the ID of this one. Could it be a Marsh Warbler?

Photo taken on Jan. 24, 2018. What makes me doubt that it is a Marsh Warbler is the size, quite big one.

Thanks
Volker

 

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Werzik

Well-known member

• Mar 11, 2018

• #2

I also think it is a Marsh Warbler. Lower mandible seems to be too thick for European Reed Warbler.

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Mar 11, 2018

• #3

Primary projection for Marsh Warbler is far too short, leg colour is too dark, also the emarginations fall well within the tertial area....I'm thinking BRW, unless theirs an endemic acro to the region?

Cheers

 

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

• Mar 11, 2018

• #4

African reed....

 

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Earnest lad

Well-known member

• Mar 11, 2018

• #5

What a lovely photograph!

 

CARERY

Well-known member

• Mar 11, 2018

• #6

birdboybowley said:

African reed....

Click to expand...

My thought as well.

 

S

smiths

Well-known member

• Mar 13, 2018

• #7

This is not a reed warbler of any kind - just look at the ridiculously long outermost primary for a start.
Note also the long, strong bill with largely dark lower mandible, grey face hardly showing any supercilium, strong dark grey legs, long tail, dull grey-brown wash allover underparts, very short primary projection, rufous wing panel, and even the habitat (Juncus or Cyperus).
It is a Lesser Swamp Warbler (of the dark subspecies parva).

 

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Werzik

Well-known member

• Mar 13, 2018

• #8

I agree with Smiths here, looks good for the species but isn't Lesser Swamp Warbler also a kind of Reed Warbler -- Acrocephalus?

 

Bryon Wright

Well-known member

• Mar 13, 2018

• #9

Hi all,
indeed, agree with Smiths and Werzik, on LSW id. but perhaps some confusion with the name little rush warbler, a bradypterus?

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Mar 13, 2018

• #10

smiths said:

This is not a reed warbler of any kind - just look at the ridiculously long outermost primary for a start.
Note also the long, strong bill with largely dark lower mandible, grey face hardly showing any supercilium, strong dark grey legs, long tail, dull grey-brown wash allover underparts, very short primary projection, rufous wing panel, and even the habitat (Juncus or Cyperus).
It is a Lesser Swamp Warbler (of the dark subspecies parva).

Click to expand...

According to text.....it's an Acrocephalus.....Cape Reed Warbler/Lesser Swamp Warbler whichever name you prefer to use, and I suspect an Acro with possibly the shortest of UTC's, that to one side images show the said species with super either fore, or aft or none! Highly variable just like most of the unstreaked taxa brigade, regarding the strong bill....if you look closely you will note that the bill is open, thus "deepening" it by c30%, and regarding it's choice of perch...it's been my experience that unstreaked "Acros" particularly when on migration will perch on most shrubs...if convenient.

I agree with your ID.

 

Last edited: Mar 14, 2018