Gray's Grasshopper Warbler
Helopsaltes fasciolatus
An odd, thrush-like warbler; extremely shy and seldom seen as it lurks about in dense undergrowth. The largest grasshopper-warbler, with a distinctly robust appearance. Matte brown with pale brow, throat, and belly. Complete lack of streaking distinguishes this species from Middendorff’s and Pallas’s grasshopper-warblers; white throat and pale brow distinguish Gray’s from the much browner Pleske’s Warbler. Slightly warmer-colored Sakhalin Grasshopper-Warbler is extremely similar but has a whiter throat, a thicker brow, and more extensive brown on the underside.
Identification
This is the largest of all the Locustella warblers, approaching the size of the great reed warbler. The adult has an unstreaked olive-brown back, uniformly grey breast and buff underparts, with unmottled dull orange undertail coverts.<p>The song is a short phrase, loud and distinctive; nothing like the insect-like reeling of European Locustella species, and more musical than that of Pallas's grasshopper warbler.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Helopsaltes fasciolatus
- Authority
- (Gray, GR, 1861)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Locustellidae
- Genus
- Helopsaltes
Range and habitat
This small passerine bird breeds in southern Siberia, northeastern China and Korea. It is migratory, wintering in southeast Asia. It is a species found in lowland and coastal regions, nesting in forests or thickets.
- Breeding range
- PAL : s Russia and n Mongolia to se Russia, ne China, the Korean Pen. and n Japan
- Non-breeding range
- Indonesian Arch. and w New Guinea
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager
Anisognathus igniventris
Common and unmistakable. Mostly black with a bright red belly, a red ear patch, and a blue rump and shoulder. Young birds are duller orange instead of red. Pairs or small flocks forage at all levels of montane forest and edges, often with mixed-species flocks. Occurs from extreme western Venezuela to Bolivia, from around 2,600 to 3,600 m. Listen for strange song: a rambling jumble of squeaks and tinkles.
Solomons Corella
Cacatua ducorpsii
A rather small corella-type cockatoo. An entirely white, short-tailed, noisy parrot with light blue bare skin around the eyes. Chest and belly often stained slightly brownish. Undertail and underwing yellowish in flight, but difficult to see. Often raises tall white crest. Found in most types of forest up to 1700 meters of elevation. Unmistakable within its range. Voice loud and obtrusive, including a harsh croaking “reh-reh.”
Solitary Snipe
Gallinago solitaria
A barrel-chested snipe with a dark brown back and frosty-pale face and belly. Breeds in far northern bogs and near streams, where it may even winter if water remains open; the only snipe likely to be seen in this kind of habitat in the colder months. Also winters along rocky streams and artificial canals with flowing water. Much darker and more silvery-gray in coloration than other snipe species, which are a paler brown overall. Flies straight and powerfully; does not zigzag in flight like Common Snipe and Pin-tailed Snipe.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.