Bearded Reedling
Image: Dominic Best (cc0)
NameBearded Reedling
Common NameBearded Reedling
Scientific NamePanurus biarmicus
FamilyPanuridae
Wingspan (cm)17
Length (cm)15
Weight (g)13.5
Plumage DetailsMales have a striking grey head with prominent black moustachial stripes (the 'beard'), a rufous-orange body, and a long, graduated tail. Females are duller, lacking the grey head and black stripes, with a more uniform buff-brown plumage. Both sexes have a yellowish bill.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a distinctive, metallic 'ping' or 'psching', often given in flight or when moving through reeds. It can also produce a soft, churring alarm call.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsreedbeds, marshes, wetlands
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across temperate Europe and Asia, primarily in areas with extensive reedbeds, from Western Europe to Eastern Asia.
Identifying Featureslong tail, male's black moustachial stripes, male's grey head, rufous body, reedbed habitat, metallic 'ping' call
Description
A small, distinctive passerine bird with a long tail, typically found in dense reedbeds. It is known for its acrobatic movements as it clambers among the reeds, often clinging to vertical stems.
