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The broad-tailed grassbird is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India with a possibility of occurrence in Sri Lanka. A small, mostly brown bird, it has a broad rounded and graduated tail. It is found only on the higher altitude grassy hills where it usually skulks, except during the breeding season when males fly up into the air to sing in their display. The species is believed to be a resident although it is possible that they make local movements.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The uniform brown upperparts with a broad, round-tipped and long graduated tail are distinctive features of this bird. The species has a buff supercilium and the brown tail has thin dark bars. The underside of the tail is very dark and the feathers are tipped with white. Males and females are indistinguishable in plumage. The call of the male during breeding is a lark-like and repeated trill that is accompanied by fanned tail and a fluttering flight. Other calls include a chack and a zink note. The gape colour is black and visible in singing males but is brown in females.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in August · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Grauer's Swamp WarblerBradypterus graueriGrauer's swamp warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae.
West Himalayan Bush WarblerLocustella kashmirensisThe West Himalayan bush warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae.
Learn the Broad-tailed Grassbird for real
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