Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustris
Silhouette: Yves Hoebeke · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyAcrocephalidae (Reed Warblers and Allies)
- GenusAcrocephalus (Reed Warblers)
- SpeciesAcrocephalus palustris (Marsh Warbler)
About the Marsh Warbler
The marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) is an Old World warbler currently classified in the family Acrocephalidae. It breeds in temperate Europe and the western Palearctic and winters mainly in southeast Africa. It is notable for incorporating striking imitations of a wide variety of other birds into its song.
The marsh warbler breeds in a variety of mostly damp habitats, but in Africa winters mainly in dry, well-vegetated areas. It is common over much of its breeding range and expanding its distribution in some areas. However, in Britain it is now virtually extinct as a breeding bird, though the reasons for its decline are unclear. This insectivorous warbler can be easily confused with several close relatives, but the imitative song of the male is highly distinctive.
The marsh warbler was formally described in 1798 by the German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein under the scientific name Motacilla s. Sylvia palustris. The type locality is Germany. The marsh warbler is now one of around 40 species placed in the genus Acrocephalus that was introduced by Johann Andreas Naumann and his son Johann Friedrich Naumann in 1811. The genus name Acrocephalus is from Ancient... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Marsh Warbler in Mkomazi National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Mkomazi National Park
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Acrocephalus gracilirostris
Great Reed-Warbler
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
Eurasian Reed-Warbler
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Sedge Warbler
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
African Yellow-Warbler
Iduna natalensis
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler
Iduna pallida
Upcher's Warbler
Hippolais languida
Usambara Double-collared Sunbird
Cinnyris usambaricus
African Dusky Flycatcher
Muscicapa adusta
Black Sawwing
Psalidoprocne pristoptera
Bar-throated Apalis
Apalis thoracica
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.