Adult - Marievale Bird Sanctuary. All images copyright Simply Birding Africa.
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Acrocephalus gracilirostris- Habitat: Prefers Phragmites and Typha reed beds over water.
- Diet: Mainly invertabrates,
- Status: Common resident in suitable habitats
- Calls: Liquid, bubbling and full sounding typical warbler call.
- Similar looking: May be confused with Common Reed Warbler but size and leg colour differ. Significantly smaller than Great Reed Warbler.
- Similar sounding: Unique for a warbler song with experience, with only Greater Swamp Warbler sounding similar.
ID pitfalls
As a warbler, LBJS are tricky to identify without experience but its larger size compared to Common Reed Warbler, darker legs and habit of feeding off insects from the water surface all help with identifying this species.
Where to find one
Common throughout the year in reedbeds with water.