African Desert Warbler
Curruca deserti
Very small Sylvia warbler of sandy desert with scattered low shrubs. Plumage is a pale warm buff-brown overall; warmer than the closely-related Asian Desert Warbler that has more prominently-patterned tertials. Note the deep rusty-colored tail, yellow eyes, and yellowish legs. Often forages on the ground, sometimes following wheatears. Song a short sequence of rattles and a flutey note. Call a low "trrrrr."
Identification
It is a small bird, marginally the smallest in the genus, 11–12 cm long, and 7–10 g weight. The sexes are almost identical in colour, pale sandy yellow-brown above and whitish below; the bill and legs are yellowish, and the eye has a yellow iris; it differs from the Asian desert warbler in its more yellowish overall colour.
Taxonomy
Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Asian desert warbler (and called just "desert warbler"), but is now given specific status. The two are still each other's closest living relatives, and their relationships to other typical warblers are not clear; they may be fairly close to the common whitethroat. But it seems that all these three taxa are fairly basal members of the genus.
- Scientific name
- Curruca deserti
- Authority
- (Loche, 1858)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Sylviidae
- Genus
- Curruca
Range and habitat
The warbler breeds in the deserts of north-western Africa south of the Atlas Mountains from southern Morocco east to western Libya and south to Mali and Niger. It winters in the same area, and does not migrate other than short distances.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
Like its relatives, it is insectivorous, but will also take small berries; unlike most warblers, it commonly feeds on the ground. The song is a distinctive jingle often given in an advertisement flight, with clear notes (differing from Asian desert warbler in having few harsh notes). It breeds in desert and semi-desert environments, as long as some scattered bushes for nesting occur. The nest is built in low shrub, and 2–5 eggs are laid.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Cinereous-breasted Spinetail
Synallaxis hypospodia
Medium-sized spinetail with a long tail and a black patch on the throat. Like other Synallaxis spinetails it has a rusty crown and wings, but note the grayish face, olive-brown back and tail, grayish breast, and a white chin. It inhabits wet grasslands and open areas with scattered shrubs; often near water. The song is a loud and accelerated series of “chéw, chew-chee-chee-chee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-eu”.
African Scops-Owl
Otus senegalensis
A small, compact, gray-brown owl with small ear tufts. It occupies moist woodland and arid savanna, provided there are trees with cavities for nesting. Its supreme wooden-stump-like camouflage keeps it well hidden during the day. At night a unique croaking frog-like “prreeeuup” call is repeated every 5–8 seconds, sometimes for long periods, and is the easiest way to track it down.
Oriental Reed Warbler
Acrocephalus orientalis
In breeding range, this large, long-billed songster of expansive reedbeds can often be seen perched on top of a stalk belting its heart out, but on wintering grounds, it is more likely to be detected by a harsh, grating rattling from deep within the vegetation. Unremarkably plumaged, brown above, paler below, with a weak white supercilium and a short bristly crest, occasionally raised. Compare with other large reed warblers, especially Clamorous Reed Warbler.
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