Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

A huge Old World warbler closely related to other big ons and looking like a very, very big ordinary Reed Warbler. Different races breed from Portugal in south-western Europe round to Japan. They are unstreaked and have a rufous-brown cast to them.

All are migrants with the European ones going south of the Sahara and the Eastern ones to Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia. They have a very complex and loud song - this is quite similar in structure to the Reed Warbler. The Clamorous Reed Warbler breeds in the Near East and winters in India - a little smaller than the Great.

As many as 5 or 6 Acrocephalus warblers may occur in the same area.

Length	200 mm
Closed wing	95 mm
Weight	30 gms

A Bird On! Sketch by Chris Mead
Copyright © 1996 by Jacobi Jayne & Company and Chris Mead