Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris)

Other Names (World)
Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Thin-billed Flycatcher-Warbler, Yellow Swamp-warbler, Papyrus Flycatcher-warbler, Yellow Flycatcher-warbler, Papyrus Yellow-Warbler

Family
Acrocephalidae (Reed-warblers)

Size
14 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Ogilvie-Grant, 1906)

Habitat
Papyrus-swamps, and marshy habitats, especially reeds.

Range (Guide)

Burundi (B) (NB), Congo [The Democratic Republic of the] (B) (NB), Kenya (B) (NB), Rwanda (B) (NB), Tanzania [United Republic of] (B) (NB), Uganda (B) (NB), Zambia (B) (NB).

Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.

Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation through drainage for the cultivation of crops, such as rice, and dairy farming, is the main threat.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Melodious, liquid warblings.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (8)...)

Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris) [XC579232]
by Peter Boesman from Nchelenge, Luapula Province, Zambia (song)

Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris) [XC699716]
by Hans Matheve from Nchelenge Papyrus marsh, Luapula Province, Zambia (song)

Subspecies
Genus generally considered as having affinities with Acrocephalus and Hippolais; close relationship of present species with those two genera supported by mitochondrial DNA analysis. This species' relationship with African Yellow Warbler (Iduna natalensis) and Mountain Yellow Warbler (Iduna similis) uncertain, as very different from both in structure (longer, more graduated tail, larger toes and claws, narrower bill) and song. Was earlier placed in a monotypic genus, Calamonastides, and classified with the "Calamocichla group" of Afrotropical Acrocephalus swamp-warblers (Greater Swamp-Warbler (Acrocephalus rufescens), Cape Verde Swamp-Warbler (Acrocephalus brevipennis), Lesser Swamp-Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris), Madagascar Swamp-Warbler (Acrocephalus newtoni), Rodrigues Warbler (Acrocephalus rodericanus) and Seychelles Warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis)) on account of its large feet and swamp habitat. Further research is required.

The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

gracilirostris (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906) - Eastern DRCongo (L Edward, south of Virunga Volcanoes) and south-western Uganda (lakes of Mutanda, Bunyoni, Edward and George), northern and southern Rwanda and northern Burundi (Karuzi, Nduruma valley, R Ruvubu along Tanzania border). Also western Kenya (L Victoria).
bensoni (Amadon, 1954) - Mouth of R Luapala (L Mweru), in northern Zambia. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Zambian Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides bensoni).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris) - 9 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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