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.