Species:

River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

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Length (cm):
13-13
10-10
Wingspan (cm):
19-22
12-14
Weight (gram):
15-19
8-12
Size group:
Warbler-size
Warbler-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

A long-tailed and relatively long-winged Locustella, with olive-brown plumage and pale belly. Conspicuously broad, rounded tail, and substantial vent. Under tail coverts brown with with prominent pale fringes, and almost reaches tail tip. Faintly streaked throat and breast. Rump and tail warmer brown than back. Faint and short supercilium and pale eye-ring. First long primary with pale outer web, and a slight curve. Song-posts often more exposed than Grasshopper Warbler.

Sound:

Song an insectlike, buzzing like Grasshopper and Savi's Warbler, but easily distinguished from those by it's distinct steam locomotive-like rhythm. About 8 accents per second. Perhaps easier to confuse with certain species of ground crickets or cicadas than it's congeners. Contact call a sharp "tsikk-tsikk", similar to Savi's Warbler.

Song:

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See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Small, short winged warbler. Similar to Scrub Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta) and Graceful Warbler (Prinia gracilis), but both wings and tail much shorter. Tail fan-shaped with black and white tips. Heavily streaked back, buff underparts and pale throat and vent. Pale area around eye. Flight diagnostic, with whirring wings and short, slightly spread, fan-like tail. Song flight even more distinct, with long undulations synchronised with voice.

Sound:

Male song a diagnostic, monosyllabic, high-pitched "cist", repeated in an even rhythm about once every second, while in bounding song-flight or perched. Alarm call a short, clipping "witt", repeated in series.

Song and alarm:

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See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

CC

Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Warbler-like
Silhouette
Warbler-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file