Manchurian Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus tangorum
Small, shy, and poorly understood, this reed warbler breeds in the remote marshlands of northeastern China and Russia and winters in drier, grassier habitats in Southeast Asia. Warm brown overall with a clean-cut whitish brow and throat; brow extends well behind the eye, unlike in Blunt-winged Warbler. Very similar to extralimital Paddyfield Warbler, but Paddyfield shows dark-tipped lower mandible, duller brown tones overall, and a dirtier brow stripe with a distinctive pinch just before the eye, after which it fades out; Manchurian’s brow broadens behind the eye instead. Oriental Reed Warbler much larger, with a weaker head pattern. Rambling jumbled song consists of high-pitched warbling notes and sharp clicks and rattles; more pleasant-sounding than that of Oriental Reed Warbler.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Acrocephalus tangorum
- Authority
- La Touche, 1912
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Acrocephalidae
- Genus
- Acrocephalus
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL : ne China, se Russia
- Non-breeding range
- se Asia
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Scaly-throated Leaftosser
Sclerurus guatemalensis
Retiring inhabitant of humid tropical lowlands. Found singly, hopping on the ground in shady rainforest and tossing leaves with its bill, in search of insects and other morsels. Most often detected when disturbed or flushed, when it gives a sharp, whistled “skweek” call. Note the long and rather slender straight bill. Plumage is dark brown overall with paler mottling (not really scaling) on the throat and breast.
Maned Owl
Jubula lettii
Distinctive and unusual rainforest owl. Mostly rufous-brown, with long, shaggy ear tufts and plumes at the back of the head. The eyes vary from yellow to orange. The breast is rufous and the belly is buff with fine black streaks. Rare and local in the understory of lowland rainforest in thick areas, usually those with abundant lianas. The voice is unknown. Somewhat similar to some eagle-owls, but smaller and slimmer, with differently shaped drooping ear tufts.
Bar-bellied Pitta
Hydrornis elliotii
Jade-green pitta with densely striped, green underparts and a black mask. Male has an aquamarine-blue patch on the back of the crown and a dark purplish-blue one on the belly. Female lacks both of these features and instead has a pale orangish head. Like other pittas, forages deep in dense undergrowth and can be hard to see, especially in the limestone gullies and forested riversides it prefers. Predominantly a lowland species. Song is a brief, bubbly-sounding exclamation of three notes, akin to “chowee-wu!”. Call sounds rather like a single blare of a police car alarm.
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