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Acrocephalus

(Genus)

Overview

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The Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are sometimes called marsh-warblers or reed-warblers, but this invites confusion with Marsh Warbler and Reed Warbler proper, especially in North America where it is common to use lower case for bird species.

These are rather drab brownish warblers usually associated with marshes or other wetlands. Some are streaked, others plain. Many species are migratory.

Many species have a flat head profile, which gives rise to the group's scientific name.

Species breeding in temperate regions are strongly migratory.

The most enigmatic species of the genus, the Large-billed Reed-warbler (A. orinus), was rediscovered in Thailand on March, 2006. It was only found once before, in 1867. It was found also in a remote corner of Afghanistan in the Summer 2009.

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This Reed Warbler is raising the young of a Common Cuckoo

Fragmentary fossil remains from the Late Miocene (about 11 mya) of Rudab?nya (NE Hungary) show some apomorphies typical of this genus (Bernor et al. 2002). Given its rather early age (most Passerida genera are not known until the Pliocene), it is not too certain that it is correctly placed here, but it is highly likely to belong to the Acrocephalidae at the least.

he Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are sometimes called marsh-warblers or reed-warblers, but this invites confusion with Marsh Warbler and Reed Warbler proper, especially in North America where it is common to use lower case for bird species.

These are rather drab brownish warblers usually associated with marshes or other wetlands. Some are streaked, others plain. Many species are migratory.

Many species have a flat head profile, which gives rise to the group's scientific name.

Species breeding in temperate regions are strongly migratory.

The most enigmatic species of the genus, the Large-billed Reed-warbler (A. orinus), was rediscovered in Thailand on March, 2006. It was only found once before, in 1867. It was found also in a remote corner of Afghanistan in the Summer 2009.

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This Reed Warbler is raising the young of a Common Cuckoo

Fragmentary fossil remains from the Late Miocene (about 11 mya) of Rudab?nya (NE Hungary) show some apomorphies typical of this genus (Bernor et al. 2002). Given its rather early age (most Passerida genera are not known until the Pliocene), it is not too certain that it is correctly placed here, but it is highly likely to belong to the Acrocephalidae at the least.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Cibois, Thiboult & Pasquet: Systematics of the extinct reed warblers Acrocephalus of the Society Islands of eastern Polynesia. Ibis (2008), 150, 365?376
he Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acr ocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are sometimes called marsh-warblers or reed-warblers, but this invites confusion with Marsh Warbler and Reed Warbler proper, especially in North America where it is common to use lower case for bird species.

These are rather drab brownish warblers usually associated with marshes or other wetlands. Some are streaked, others plain. Many species are migratory.

Many species have a flat head profile, which gives rise to the group's scientific name.

Species breeding in temperate regions are strongly migratory.

The most enigmatic species of the genus, the Large-billed Reed-warbler (A. orinus), was rediscovered in Thailand on March, 2006. It was only found once before, in 1867. It was found also in a remote corner of Afghanistan in the Summer 2009.

[ Back to top ]
This Reed Warbler is raising the young of a Common Cuckoo

Fragmentary fossil remains from the Late Miocene (about 11 mya) of Rudab?nya (NE Hungary) show some apomorphies typical of this genus (Bernor et al. 2002). Given its rather early age (most Passerida genera are not known until the Pliocene), it is not too certain that it is correctly placed here, but it is highly likely to belong to the Acrocephalidae at the least.

he Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are sometimes called marsh-warblers or reed-warblers, but this invites confusion with Marsh Warbler and Reed Warbler proper, especially in North America where it is common to use lower case for bird species.

These are rather drab brownish warblers usually associated with marshes or other wetlands. Some are streaked, others plain. Many species are migratory.

Many species have a flat head profile, which gives rise to the group's scientific name.

Species breeding in temperate regions are strongly migratory.

The most enigmatic species of the genus, the Large-billed Reed-warbler (A. orinus), was rediscovered in Thailand on March, 2006. It was only found once before, in 1867. It was found also in a remote corner of Afghanistan in the Summer 2009.

[ Back to top ]
This Reed Warbler is raising the young of a Common Cuckoo

Fragmentary fossil remains from the Late Miocene (about 11 mya) of Rudab?nya (NE Hungary) show some apomorphies typical of this genus (Bernor et al. 2002). Given its rather early age (most Passerida genera are not known until the Pliocene), it is not too certain that it is correctly placed here, but it is highly likely to belong to the Acrocephalidae at the least.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Cibois, Thiboult & Pasquet: Systematics of the extinct reed warblers Acrocephalus of the Society Islands of eastern Polynesia. Ibis (2008), 150, 365?376

References

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External links

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Taxonomy

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The Genus Acrocephalus is further organized into finer groupings including:

References

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External links

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c Cibois, Thiboult & Pasquet: Systematics of the extinct reed warblers Acrocephalus of the Society Islands of eastern Polynesia. Ibis (2008), 150, 365?376

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:53:42