Sakhalin Grasshopper Warbler
NameSakhalin Grasshopper Warbler
Common NameSakhalin Grasshopper Warbler
Scientific NameHelopsaltes amnicola
FamilyLocustellidae
Wingspan (cm)18
Length (cm)14
Weight (g)12
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are uniformly plain brown, lacking prominent streaking. Underparts are paler, buffy-white, with a faint buff wash on the flanks and breast. It has a pale supercilium and a dark eye-stripe, with a relatively short, pointed bill.
Vocalization / CallThe song is a long, monotonous, high-pitched, mechanical trill, often likened to the sound of a sewing machine or a grasshopper. It can be sustained for several minutes.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatswetland, forest, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and northern Hokkaido (Japan). It is a migratory species, wintering in Southeast Asia, including parts of the Philippines, Borneo, and Sulawesi.
Identifying FeaturesPlain brown plumage with paler underparts, Skulking behavior in dense vegetation, Long, mechanical, insect-like trilling song, Pale supercilium and dark eye-stripe
Description
A small, rather plain brown warbler, often observed skulking low in dense vegetation. It is known for its distinctive, mechanical, insect-like song, which is often the best way to detect its presence.
