River warbler
River warbler | |
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In Horred, Västra Götaland, Sweden | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Locustellidae |
Genus: | Locustella |
Species: | L. fluviatilis
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Binomial name | |
Locustella fluviatilis (Wolf, 1810)
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Range of L. fluviatilis Breeding Passage Non-breeding Possibly Extant (passage)
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The river warbler (Locustella fluviatilis) is an
This small passerine bird is a species found in dense deciduous vegetation close to water in bogs or near a river. Five to seven eggs are laid in a nest in a tussock or on the ground. This species is a rare vagrant to western Europe. In Britain, a small number of males have set up territories in spring, including a bird in Greater Manchester in 1995.[4] One exceptional vagrant was photographed in Gambell, Alaska, in October 2017.[5]
This is a largish warbler. The adult has an unstreaked grey-brown back, whitish grey underparts, and a darker undertail, which has white feather tips giving a contrasting pattern. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds are yellower below. Like most warblers, it is
Some birds can show reduced dark markings on the undertail coverts (caused by more extensive than usual white tips) and thus are closer in appearance to Savi's warbler than typical river warblers. However, they typically still have a streaked breast and more olive colouration on the upperparts.[6]
This is a skulking species which is very difficult to see except sometimes when singing. It creeps through grass and low foliage.
The song is a monotonous mechanical insect-like reeling, often given at dusk. It is similar to the song of other species in the group, but has more of a sewing machine quality, and may be produced for long periods.
References
- . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ "Grasshopper". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^ Alker, Peter (1995) The River Warbler in Greater Manchester Birding World 8(6):216-7
- ^ Benter, Brad (2017-10-08). "North America's first River Warbler". Alaska Rare Bird Alert. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
- ^ Normaja, Jyrki (1994) Plumage variation in River Warblers Birding World 7(5): 192-5