Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) 🐦🌿🎶

The Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) is a large, vocal warbler known for its loud and repetitive song, often heard in dense reed beds and marshes. Found across South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, this species thrives in wetlands, riverbanks, and mangrove edges. It is a resident and migratory species, with populations in India and Bangladesh, including parts of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.

📌 Taxonomy and Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Passeriformes
• Family: Acrocephalidae
• Genus: Acrocephalus
• Species: Acrocephalus stentoreus

The name “stentoreus” comes from Stentor, a figure in Greek mythology known for his booming voice, which perfectly describes this bird’s powerful and continuous singing.

🔍 Morphology and Physical Characteristics

• Size: Large for a warbler, measuring 18–20 cm (7–8 in) in length.
• Weight: Around 22–30 grams.
• Plumage:
  • Warm brown upperparts, blending well with reed habitats.
  • Buff or pale underparts, sometimes with a yellowish tinge.
  • Long tail and strong legs, suited for clambering among reeds.
  • Slight supercilium (eyebrow stripe), but less prominent than in other warblers.
• Sexual Dimorphism:
  • Males and females look identical, though males tend to sing more frequently.
• Juveniles:
  • Duller plumage, with less defined markings.

🌍 Habitat and Distribution

The Clamorous Reed Warbler is widespread across:

• India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries.
• Australia, where it is a resident species.

📍 Presence in Sundarban

• This species is a common resident in the Sundarban, particularly in:
  • Wetland areas and reed beds within the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve.
  • Mangrove edges and riverbanks, where dense vegetation provides shelter.
  • Paddy fields and marshes in buffer zones, where they find ample food.

Unlike many warblers that migrate, some populations of Clamorous Reed Warblers are resident in Sundarban year-round.

🥣 Diet and Feeding Behavior

The Clamorous Reed Warbler is omnivorous, feeding on:

• Insects (beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, dragonflies, and caterpillars). 🦟
• Small crustaceans and mollusks, occasionally found in wetland areas. 🦐
• Seeds and aquatic plant material, supplementing its diet.

It forages low in dense vegetation, moving agilely through reeds.

⚡ Special Features and Behavior

• Loud and Repetitive Song: Males sing continuously, even at night, with loud, raspy notes. 🎶
• Resident and Migratory Populations: Some populations remain year-round, while others migrate.
• Climbing Ability: Uses strong legs and feet to move vertically in reeds, rather than flying often.
• Territorial Bird: Males aggressively defend breeding territories in dense reed beds.
• Breeding Season: In South Asia, breeding occurs from March to September, with nests built in reeds or tall grasses.

🛡️ Conservation Status

• Classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List. ✅
• Major threats:
  • Wetland degradation and mangrove destruction, affecting nesting and food supply.
  • Overuse of pesticides, reducing insect prey.

Conservation efforts in Sundarban’s wetlands and mangrove reserves help sustain healthy populations of this species.

The Clamorous Reed Warbler is a vocal and active wetland bird, well-adapted to Sundarban’s riverine and marshy habitats. Unlike many migratory warblers, this species has resident populations in the Sundarban, making it a regular sighting in reed beds and mangrove edges. For birdwatching enthusiasts, a Sundarban luxury tour offers the chance to experience this songbird’s loud and persistent calls while exploring the region’s rich biodiversity. 🦜🌿

📚 Footnote

For more details on the Clamorous Reed Warbler, visit its Wikipedia page.