Bird Guide

Australian Reed Warbler vs Marsh Warbler

Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)

Australian Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus australis

Small18 gWetland

Voice: Described as a sweet melodious warble with rich fluty notes as well as hard and metallic sounding notes, Australian reed warbler song is loud and varied. The song of this species consists of sets of short sequences consisting of a pattern of sounds that is repeated, after a 3-5 second interval, in varied combinations.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)

Marsh Warbler

Acrocephalus palustris

Tiny12 gShrubland

This is a medium-sized warbler. It is very similar in appearance to several other acrocephaline warblers, such as the reed warbler which also occurs in wetlands and has a similar breeding range. The male's distinctive song is useful for identification, as no other member of the genus mimics other birds to any significant extent. The marsh warbler also tends to avoid the stands of pure reed which are the reed warbler's favoured habitat. The sexes are alike in appearance. Hybridisation with both reed warbler and Blyth's reed warbler has been occasionally recorded.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Marsh Warbler
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Song · Arrondissement of Avranches (near Genêts), Manche, Normandy, France · CC0
Photo: Johannes S. · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Australian Reed Warbler and Marsh Warbler.