Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)

Rate this post

Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) 🐦🌾

The Paddyfield Warbler (Acrocephalus agricola) is a small, secretive songbird found in reed beds, wetlands, and agricultural fields. Known for its melodious and repetitive song, this warbler is a skilled insect hunter, often seen flitting through tall grasses and reeds. It is a migratory species, breeding in Central Asia and South Asia and wintering in India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia. While not a core species of Sundarban, it may be found in marshy zones, paddy fields, and wetland edges in the region.


📌 Taxonomy and Classification

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

The Paddyfield Warbler belongs to the Acrocephalidae family, which includes reed warblers and other wetland-associated passerines.


🔍 Morphology and Physical Characteristics

  • Size: Small bird, measuring 12–14 cm (4.7–5.5 in) in length.
  • Weight: Approximately 10–15 grams.
  • Plumage:
    • Warm brown upperparts, helping with camouflage in reeds.
    • Pale buff underparts, with a slightly yellowish tinge.
    • Distinct whitish supercilium (eyebrow stripe), a key identification feature. 👀
    • Short, slightly curved bill, ideal for picking insects.
  • Sexual Dimorphism:
    • Males and females look identical.
  • Juveniles:
    • Slightly duller plumage compared to adults.

🌍 Habitat and Distribution

The Paddyfield Warbler is found across:

  • Central Asia, South Asia, and parts of Europe, where it breeds in wetlands and reed beds.
  • India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, where it winters in marshes, paddy fields, and riverbanks.

📍 Presence in Sundarban

  • While not a core Sundarban resident, it may be spotted in:
    • Wetland patches and reed beds near the Sundarban’s buffer zone.
    • Paddy fields and grassy floodplains in nearby agricultural areas.
    • Coastal marshes and riverbanks, where insect populations thrive.

🥣 Diet and Feeding Behavior

The Paddyfield Warbler is insectivorous, feeding on:

  • Small insects (flies, beetles, grasshoppers, spiders). 🦟
  • Caterpillars and larvae, especially during the breeding season.
  • Occasionally small seeds and nectar, supplementing its diet.

It forages actively among tall grasses and reeds, using swift, darting movements.


⚡ Special Features and Behavior

  • Melodious Singer: Produces a loud, chattering song, often heard before the bird is seen. 🎶
  • Migratory Nature: Travels long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
  • Skilled Camouflage: Blends into dense reeds and grasses, making it hard to spot.
  • Breeding Season: Occurs between April and August, where males sing vigorously to attract females.

🛡️ Conservation Status

  • Classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List. ✅
  • Major threats:
    • Wetland destruction and drainage reducing habitat availability.
    • Use of pesticides in paddy fields, impacting insect prey.

Efforts to preserve wetlands and coastal marshes support this species’ survival.


The Paddyfield Warbler is a small but highly vocal bird, well-adapted to wetlands and agricultural fields. While not a primary species of the Sundarban, it may be found in buffer zones, reed beds, and paddy fields near the mangroves. For birdwatching enthusiasts, a Sundarban private tour offers opportunities to explore wetland birds, including migratory species like the Paddyfield Warbler. 🦜🌿


📚 Footnote

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