Warbler - British Trust for Ornithology

34 ACROCEPHALUS SORGOPHILUS
Colours ofsoft parts. Bill: upper mandible blackish-brown, edge
ofupper and whole oflower yellow ochre. Legs: light greenishplumbeous,
soles greenish-yellow. Mouth: yellow. Iris: ochreousbrown.
(La Touche, 1925-30.)
Measurements. Wing, 56-59. Tail, 46-48. Bill, 14-14t. Tarsus,
20-21. (Three only examined).
Wing-formula (pp. ascendant). Emarginated 3rd-5th. 1st p. t-I+
p.c.
Wing-point, 4th or 3rd = 4th (in one 3rd, t). 5th, I; 6th, 4-d;
7th, 6t-8; loth, II-I2.
2nd, 4-5, in one just shorter and in the others just longer than
6th. Notch on inner web 13-14 from tip, falls about middle ofss.
Notch on inner web of 3rd falls opposite 9th-loth.
Distribution. Said by La Touche (1925-30) to breed in ChiWi, N. China,
and Manchuria, probably wintering S.E. China. Recorded at Luzon, Philippine
Is.
ACROCEPHALUS SCIRPACEUS (Hermann)
Reed- Warbler
A. scirpaceus scirpaceus (Hermann)
Olive-brown above, becoming darker-especially on headwith
wear, inclining to rufous on rump. Whitish under parts
suffused with buffon flanks; under tail-eoverts warm buff
Found in reed- and osier-beds and other rank vegetation and
bushes near water; in central Europe regularly in dry situations
in parks and gardens. Usual call-note a low churr. Song distinguished
from SEDGE-WARBLER'S by its comparative uniformity
and more subdued, slower delivery; a stuttering disyllabic pattern
(ch irruc-chirruc) , but the bird will often insert into this basic
framework a wide variety of notes, often mimetic and often
sweet. (c. M. Swaine.) Sings at night. Good-voiced birds with
strongly mimetic songs, occupying atypical habitats, have sometimes
been confused with MARSH WARBLER.
Ageing. Adults in autumn are dark olive-brown on head and
upper mantle, and have worn wings and tail. 1st-winter birds are
tawny-brown above and deeper buff below, except for white
chin and throat, and have fresh wings and tail. Reddish-brown
fringes to greater coverts contrast with blackish bastard-wing
and primary coverts.