Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Pallas's grasshopper warbler

Helopsaltes certhiola, Peter Simon Pallas, 1811

(In Thai: นกพงตั๊กแตนท้ายทอยสีเทา)

Pallas's grasshopper warbler (Helopsaltes certhiola) is an Old World warbler in the grass warbler genus Helopsaltes. It breeds in the east Palearctic - Siberia to Manchuria and Sea of Japan, NE China, Altai Mountains, Sayan Mountains and Transbaikalia

Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka. It is migratory, wintering from India east to Indonesia, where it is a rare migrant in Sri Lanka.

Etymology

This bird was named after the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas. The specific certhiola is a diminutive from the genus Certhia, the treecreepers.

The sixth edition of Clements Checklist refers to this species as "Pallas's warbler", a name more commonly used for Phylloscopus proregulus.

Habitat

This small passerine bird is found in tall grass with some thicker vegetation, usually close to water in bogs or wet meadows. From 4 to 7 eggs are laid in a nest on the ground in grass. This species is a very rare vagrant to western Europe. One of the best places to see this skulking species as a vagrant is Fair Isle, Shetland; for a species that only rarely appears in western Europe, it can be found there with some regularity.

Description

This is a medium-sized warbler. The adult has a streaked brown back, whitish grey underparts, unstreaked except on the undertail. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are yellower below. Like most warblers, it is insectivorous. It is very similar to the common grasshopper warbler, but is slightly larger, has white tips to the tail and tertial feathers, and a warmer brown rump. The white tips are the reason for its colloquial, mnemonic name of "PG Tips".

This is a skulky species which is very difficult to see except sometimes when singing. It creeps through grass and low foliage.

Voice

The song is not the mechanical insect-like reeling produced by the common grasshopper warbler and some other Locustella warblers, but an inventive Acrocephalus-like melody.

Subspecies

Five subspecies recognized.

  • H. c. rubescens Blyth, 1845
  • H. c. sparsimstriatus Meise, 1934
  • H. c. certhiola (Pallas, 1811)
  • H. c. centralasiae Sushkin, 1925
  • H. c. minor David & Oustalet, 1877

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Category / Seasonal Status

Wiki listed status (concerning Thai population): Winter visitor

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
Locustellidae
Genus
Helopsaltes
Species
Helopsaltes certhiola

Common names

  • Thai: นกพงตั๊กแตนท้ายทอยสีเทา

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Pallas's grasshopper warbler

Range Map

Distribution map of Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola in Thailand
  • Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram
  • Bang Len District, Nakhon Pathom
  • Bang Phra Non-Hunting Area
  • Bang Pu Recreation Centre
  • Bangkok Province
  • Bueng Boraped Non-Hunting Area
  • Chatturat District, Chaiyaphum
  • Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai
  • Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai
  • Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Doi Lo District, Chiang Mai
  • Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
  • Hat Yai District, Songkhla
  • Kabin Buri District, Prachinburi
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Kamphaeng Saen District, Nakhon Pathom
  • Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham
  • Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat
  • Khao Lak - Lam Ru National Park
  • Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
  • Khao Yai National Park
  • Khao Yoi District, Phetchaburi
  • Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani
  • Klaeng District, Rayong
  • Ko Chang National Park
  • Laem Pak Bia
  • Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Chaiyaphum District, Chaiyaphum
  • Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai
  • Mueang Chonburi District, Chonburi
  • Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen
  • Mueang Lamphun District, Lamphun
  • Mueang Phayao District, Phayao
  • Mueang Phetchaburi District, Phetchaburi
  • Mueang Samut Sakhon District, Samut Sakhon
  • Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla
  • Mueang Suphanburi District, Suphan Buri
  • Mueang Surat Thani District, Surat Thani
  • Mueang Surin District, Surin
  • Mueang Uttaradit District, Uttaradit
  • Nong Bong Khai Non-Hunting Area
  • Nong Thung Thong Non-Hunting Area
  • Pak Phli District, Nakhon Nayok
  • Pak Thale
  • Pha Daeng National Park
  • Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  • Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom
  • Sai Noi District, Nonthaburi
  • Samut Prakan Province
  • San Sai District, Chiang Mai
  • Sanam Bin Reservoir Non-Hunting Area
  • Si Racha District, Chonburi
  • Takua Pa District, Phang Nga
  • Taphan Hin District, Phichit
  • Thalang District, Phuket
  • Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani
Range map of Helopsaltes certhiola in Thailand