Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 250 - 999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Exploitation of bamboo as well as invasion by the neotropical weed Miconia, increasing human disturbance, the introduction of many alien bird species, including the aggressive Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Call is a harsh 'churrr'. Song is a lively and varied series of whistles, churrs, and warbles, often long sustained.
Tahiti Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus caffer) [XC74570]
by Todd Mark from Papenoo Valley, Tahiti, French Polynesia, France (?)
Tahiti Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus caffer) [XC443243]
by id from Papenoo Valley, Tahiti, French Polynesia, France (call)
Subspecies
Has sometimes been regarded as conspecific with Tuamotu Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus atyphus) and Southern Marquesan Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus mendanae), but there are obvious morphological and behavioural differences separating them. Subspecies garretti, known only from Huahine (in Leeward Group of Society Is), and longirostris, from Moorea (in Windward Group of Society Is), are extinct.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
caffer (Sparrman, 1786) - Tahiti (Windward Group of Society Is).
garretti! Holyoak and Thibault, 1978 - Huahine (in Leeward Group of Society Is). Extinct. Considered by some authors to be a subspecies of Forster's Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus musae).
longirostris! (Gmelin, JF, 1789) - Moorea (in Windward Group of Society Is). Extinct. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Moorea Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus longirostris).
Similar Species
Tahiti Monarch (Pomarea nigra) is blacker than dark morph, with pale blue, short bill.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet