Afghanistan (B), China (mainland) (B), India (B), Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B), Kazakhstan (B), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan (B), Oman (B), Pakistan (B), Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan (B), Turkmenistan (B), United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan (B).
Vagrant to United Kingdom.
Breeds from lower R Volga east to eastern Kazakhstan (L Balkhash) and extreme western China (western and central Xinjiang), south to southern Iran, Afghanistan and north-western and western Pakistan, also north-western Oman. Non-breeding Indian Subcontinent.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Sykes's Warbler (Iduna rama) [XC814875]
by id from Akzhar, Balkhash District, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Recent molecular-genetic studies suggest that this species and Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata), Isabelline Warbler (Iduna opaca) and Olivaceous Warbler (Iduna pallida) are closer to Acrocephalus than to current congeners and could be placed in a separate genus, Iduna. Was formerly regarded as conspecific with Booted Warbler (Iduna caligata), but recent work has revealed that the two have apparently overlapping breeding ranges, and differ in mitochondrial DNA, song, habitat and morphology.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet