Birdsong field guide
Blunt-winged Warbler
Acrocephalus concinens
A small, drab marsh warbler characterized by its short, rounded wings and relatively short primary projection compared to its congeners.
What it sounds like
A slow, deliberate, and rhythmic song featuring harsh 'char-char' notes interspersed with softer warbling.
Field notes
- Closely resembles the Paddyfield Warbler but is distinguished by its shorter wing length and slightly heavier bill.
- The species is highly secretive and 'skulking,' rarely emerging from the safety of dense aquatic vegetation.
- It is a long-distance migrant, with northern populations traveling from China to wintering grounds in Southeast Asia.
- Unlike many warblers, it primarily forages low in reedbeds, picking insects from stems rather than catching them in flight.
- Nests are intricate, deep cups woven onto several vertical reed stems, typically positioned close to the water surface.
Habitat
Dense reedbeds, tall grasses, marshes, and thick riverside scrub in lowlands and foothills.
Range
Breeds from Afghanistan and the Himalayas across to China; winters in Myanmar, Thailand, and Indochina.
Similar & commonly confused birds
Aguiguan Reed WarblerAcrocephalus nijoiAquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicolaAustralian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australisBasra Reed WarblerAcrocephalus griseldisBlack-browed Reed WarblerAcrocephalus bistrigicepsBlyth's Reed WarblerAcrocephalus dumetorumCape Verde Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus brevipennisCaroline Reed WarblerAcrocephalus syrinx
Heard a Blunt-winged Warbler?
Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.
Identify a bird by its song