Bearded Reedling
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Leviathan1983" title="User:Leviathan1983">Mathias Krumbholz</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameBearded Reedling
Common NameBearded Reedling
Scientific NamePanurus biarmicus
FamilyPanuridae
Wingspan (cm)17
Length (cm)15
Weight (g)17
Plumage DetailsThe male has a pale grey head with striking black 'moustaches' extending from the eye. Its back and wings are rufous-orange, the underparts are whitish, and it has a long, graduated tail streaked with black and white. The bill is orange-yellow. Females are duller, lacking the grey head and black moustaches, with a browner head and more buff overall.
Vocalization / CallA distinctive, metallic 'ping' or 'psching' call, 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 Eurasia, from Western Europe to Eastern Asia, primarily in areas with extensive freshwater or brackish reedbeds.
Identifying Featuresmale's grey head, male's black 'moustaches', long tail, rufous-orange body, orange bill, reedbed habitat, metallic 'ping' call
Description
This small, long-tailed passerine is easily recognized by the male's distinctive grey head and prominent black 'moustaches'. It typically inhabits extensive reedbeds, where it forages for insects and seeds, often moving acrobatically through the reeds.
