Blue Kangaroo
Active member
The African Reed Warbler is on the WP List. But it is unlikely to be ID in the field on plumage nor song. Has anyone got any ideas how to see this bird and feel that you have seen it ?
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African Reed Warbler (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Blue Kangaroo
- Start date
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
Yes, simple. Go to somewhere in Africa where you'd feel as comfortable ticking it, as you would be comfortable ticking Reed Warbler at a point on the globe where Reed Warbler would be the expected of the two species. I'm pretty sure I didn't worry about African Reed Warbler being an issue, when I got my first 'dodgy range tick' Reed Warbler at Frensham Ponds in Surrey in the 70's
:t:
Last edited:
Xenospiza
Distracted
Go somewhere in southern Spain in June (so all migrants have long passed by): http://www.magornitho.org/2016/12/phylogeny-eurasian-african-reed-warbler-complex/Yes, simple. Go to somewhere in Africa where you'd feel as comfortable ticking it, as you would be comfortable ticking Reed Warbler at a point on the globe where Reed Warbler would be the expected of the two species
Lumping makes more sense of course, but if you suggest something like that people get very upset...
Paul Chapman
Well-known member
Yes, simple. Go to somewhere in Africa where you'd feel as comfortable ticking it, as you would be comfortable ticking Reed Warbler at a point on the globe where Reed Warbler would be the expected of the two species. I'm pretty sure I didn't worry about African Reed Warbler being an issue, when I got my first 'dodgy range tick' Reed Warbler at Frensham Ponds in Surrey in the 70's
Frensham Reed Warbler was relumped in 1980.....
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
Yes, simple. Go to somewhere in Africa where you'd feel as comfortable ticking it, as you would be comfortable ticking Reed Warbler at a point on the globe where Reed Warbler would be the expected of the two species. I'm pretty sure I didn't worry about African Reed Warbler being an issue, when I got my first 'dodgy range tick' Reed Warbler at Frensham Ponds in Surrey in the 70's
Thanks Larry
But i would like to see the African Reed Warbler in the WP Area. Also i would like to be confident that, that is the bird seen. I can tick a Reed Warbler as i know its song. As for ticking various Warblers in the UK its no more than a lottery for me when the bird has not called nor sung, Olivaceous Warblers turn into Booted Warblers then they become the UK's first Olive Tree Warbler, Booted Warblers turn into Skyes Warbler depending on who needs to tick what and Melodious Warblers turn into Icterine Warblers.
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
I reckon what you are suggesting is the best. Thanks a lot.
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
So you can tell them from African RW by song then
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
No as far as i know they sound the same which is something i think i mentioned in my first post nor can you tell them apart by sight.
Larry Sweetland
Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
That was my point. You've ticked Reed Warbler on Range.
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
I have Larry. Now i want to add African Reed Warbler but as no one can ID this bird via sight nor call i need some help. The same as others do. To be able to say that they have at least seen the bird or feel confident that the bird seen was in all probabilty an African Reed Warbler.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Should rename it African't Reed Warbler . . . . o
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
That would apply to nominate Acrocephalus baeticatus baeticatus and other sspp resident in tropical Africa, but probably won't apply to migratory Iberian / NW African A. b. ambiguus?
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
Yes i have Larry. Now i get what it is you are trying to tell me. Ive ticked Reed Warbler at Severnside UK in the summer time in a reed bed singing the Reed Warblers song. No eyebrows raised to that tick, but if i have decided its an African Reed Warbler at that location above, then i think a few eyebrows might be raised.
Its only seems possible to say you have seen both or either or any of the 2 Reed Warblers based on location and time of year.
For me if i see a Reed Warbler in Spain during say November. Then its going to be ticked as an African Reed Warbler.
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
No that doesn’t work as there could be overwintering European RW, the suggestion to go there in June is the advice to follow:t:
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
Why in June ? Will there not be European Reed Warbler there ?
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Europeans will have moved through by then to breed further North, leaving just the Africans behind to breed there. I cheated a little and didn't quite wait till June; saw a couple seemingly on territory at La Rabida on 29th May.
Blue Kangaroo
Active member
Thats great. Thanks for your advice.
A.. ambiguus does have a shorter primaries and a more rounded wings than A scirpaceus although good views and photos would be needed to confirm.
The key question is whether ambiguus is a ssp of baeticatus or of scirpaceus . Historically it has been regarded as a ssp of scirpaceus but in the last few years IOC has moved it to baeticatus. This has broken the concept that scirpaceus was the migrating species and baeticatus was resident in sub-saharan Africa.
The recent handbook of Western Palearctic birds effectively ducks the issue by saying that baeticatus and scirpaceus are one and the same species (probably) and (therefore) shows ambiguus as a ssp of scirpaceus.
