Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Striated grassbird

Megalurus palustris

Thomas Horsfield, 1821

In Thai: นกหางนาค

The striated grassbird (Megalurus palustris) is an "Old World warbler" species in the family Locustellidae. It was formerly placed in the family Sylviidae. It is now the only species placed in the genus Megalurus.

It is found in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Noisy and conspicuous, often sitting and calling exposed on tops of grasses, bushes and telephone wires. Note streaked crown and streaked upper breast.

This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20, 000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10, 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

The genus Megalurus formerly included additional species. A comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the grassbird family Locustellidae published in 2018 found that Megalurus was non-monophyletic. In the resulting reorganization, fives species were moved to the resurrected genus Poodytes and four species were moved to Cincloramphus leaving only the striated grassbird in Megalurus.

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Category / Seasonal Status

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

BCST Seasonal status: Resident or presumed resident

Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Locustellidae
Genus
Megalurus
Species
Megalurus palustris

Common names

  • Thai: นกหางนาค

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (ONEP)

Near Threatened (IUCN3.1)

Near Threatened (BCST)

Photos

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Striated grassbird

Range Map

Distribution map of Striated grassbird, Megalurus palustris in Thailand
  • Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi
  • Bang Ban District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  • Bang Pu Recreation Centre
  • Bangkok Province
  • Bueng Boraped Non-Hunting Area
  • Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Lo District, Chiang Mai
  • Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
  • Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
  • Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Phetchaburi District, Phetchaburi
  • Mueang Phichit District, Phichit
  • Mueang Samut Sakhon District, Samut Sakhon
  • Nong Bong Khai Non-Hunting Area
  • Pak Phli District, Nakhon Nayok
  • Pha Daeng National Park
  • Phanat Nikhom District, Chonburi
  • Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  • Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi
  • Samut Prakan Province
  • Sop Prap District, Lampang
  • Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani
  • Wat Phai Lom & Wat Ampu Wararam Non-Hunting Area
Range map of Megalurus palustris in Thailand