Middendorff's Grasshopper Warbler
NameMiddendorff's Grasshopper Warbler
Common NameMiddendorff's Grasshopper Warbler
Scientific NameHelopsaltes ochotensis
FamilyLocustellidae
Wingspan (cm)19.5
Length (cm)14
Weight (g)15
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are olive-brown to reddish-brown, often with faint streaking on the mantle and back. Underparts are pale buffy-white, sometimes with faint streaking on the flanks. It features a pale supercilium above a dark eye-stripe and a relatively long, graduated tail.
Vocalization / CallThe call is a distinctive, mechanical, insect-like reeling song, often described as a prolonged, monotonous trill resembling a grasshopper's chirping.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatswetland, forest, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in eastern Siberia, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and northern Japan. It migrates south to winter in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Guinea.
Identifying FeaturesStreaky brown upperparts, Pale supercilium, Long, graduated tail, Skulking behavior in dense cover, Distinctive grasshopper-like reeling song
Description
This small, secretive warbler is characterized by its plain, streaky brown plumage and skulking behavior, often remaining hidden in dense vegetation. It is known for its distinctive insect-like reeling song, which gives it its common name.
