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."

识别特征

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.

分类信息

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.

学名
Curruca deserti
命名信息
(Loche, 1858)
Passeriformes
Sylviidae
Curruca

分布与栖息地

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.

迁徙
Complete migrants

行为

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.

保护状况

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

鸟叫声

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