Page 325 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WARBLERS AND ALLIES
Order Passeriformes Family Sylviidae Species Acrocephalus melanopogon
Moustached Warbler faintly streaked,
blackish cap
black line from
bill through
bold white wedge- eye
shaped stripe
over eye
slight black
dark streaked, moustache
rust-brown back
white chin
and throat
orange-tawny
soft flanks
dark streaks white belly
on rounded
tail
IN FLIGHT

short wingtip
projection

FLIGHT: short, low, flitting flights across reeds.
streaked Acrocephalus warbler, the Moustached
AWarbler is unusual in that it is a resident in its
restricted range in Europe. It is only a very rare
vagrant outside its usual range. It is quite distinctive
when seen with the Sedge Warbler, its most similar
relative, but care is required when identifying potential
out-of-range vagrants. Its song is a useful clue in the
usual breeding areas. It often tilts over and cocks its
tail which the Sedge Warbler does not. Its shorter
wingtip is sometimes discernible in a close view,
helping to confirm identification.
VOICE Call like Sedge Warbler’s but more throaty, trek
or clicking trk-tk-tk-tk; song fast and varied, with
frequent Nightingale-like rising whistles.
NESTING Deep grassy nest lined with plant down, in
reeds; 5 or 6 eggs; 1 brood;April–June. STRIKING HEAD PATTERN
FEEDING Eats insects and other small invertebrates, A wedge of white over the eye and a silky white chin are obvious
from mud and dense wetland vegetation. features of the Moustached Warbler in a good view.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Very local in S Europe, breeding
SEDGE WARBLER WHINCHAT 32; in S and E Spain, S France,
see p.322 different habitat
and posture; Balearics, Italy, and Balkans. In
see p.303 reedbeds and dense waterside
paler sedge or rushes. Resident and
paler
breast very rarely noted outside its
longer different breeding range.
wingtips shape Seen in the UK
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 12–13cm (4 3 ⁄4 –5in) Wingspan 17–21cm (6 1 ⁄2 –8 1 ⁄2 in) Weight 10–15g ( 3 ⁄8 – 9 ⁄16 oz)
Social Solitary Lifespan Up to 5 years Status Secure†
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