Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Blyth's reed warbler

Acrocephalus dumetorum

Edward Blyth, 1849

In Thai: นกพงนาพันธุ์อินเดีย

Blyth's reed warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It breeds in the Palearctic and easternmost Europe. It is migratory, wintering in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. It is one of the most common winter warblers in those countries. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe.

Etymology

This bird is named after the British zoologist Edward Blyth. The genus name Acrocephalus is from Ancient Greek akros, "highest", and kephale, "head". It is possible that Naumann and Naumann thought akros meant "sharp-pointed". The specific dumetorum is from Latin dumetum, "thicket".

Description

This small passerine bird is a species found in scrub or clearings, often near water, but it is not found in marshes. 4-6 eggs are laid in a nest in a bush.

This is a medium-sized warbler, in length. The adult has a plain brown back and pale underparts. It can easily be confused with reed warbler, marsh warbler and some of the Hippolais warblers. It is most like reed warbler but is greyer on the back, the forehead is less flattened and the bill is less strong and pointed. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are yellower below.

Habitat

The habitat is different from the reed beds favoured by reed warbler or the rank vegetation of marsh warbler, this species choosing trees or bushes as songposts. Like most warblers, Blyth's reed warbler is insectivorous, but will take other small food items, including berries.

In the breeding season, the best identification feature is the song, which is slow and repetitive, with much mimicry of other birds, punctuated with scales and typically acrocephaline whistles.

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Category / Seasonal Status

Wiki listed status (concerning Thai population): Passage migrant

BCST Category: Recorded in an apparently wild state within the last 50 years

BCST Seasonal status: Non-breeding visitor

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Acrocephalidae
Genus
Acrocephalus
Species
Acrocephalus dumetorum

Common names

  • Thai: นกพงนาพันธุ์อินเดีย

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Blyth's reed warbler

Range Map

Distribution map of Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum in Thailand
  • Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai
Range map of Acrocephalus dumetorum in Thailand