Long-tailed bush warbler
| Long-tailed bush warbler | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Locustellidae |
| Genus: | Locustella |
| Species: | L. caudata |
| Binomial name | |
| Locustella caudata (Ogilvie-Grant, 1895) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The long-tailed bush warbler (Locustella caudata) also known as the Long-tailed grasshopper-warbler is a species of grass warbler (family Locustellidae). It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage. It is found only in the Philippines on the islands of Mindanao and Luzon.
Description and taxonomy
EBird describes the bird as "A fairly small, long-tailed bird of montane forest undergrowth. Dark brown above with an orange-brown belly, a gray chest, a white throat and eyebrow, mainly in front of the eye, and a long graduated tail which it often holds cocked. Very skulking. Similar to Benguet and Philippine Bush-Warblers, but has a longer tail and deeper brown belly. Song is a sharp “tik!” followed by a ringing high-pitched buzz."[2]
Three subspecies are recognised:
- L. c. caudata– all of Mindanao except the Zamboanga Peninsula; Longer tail
- L. c. malindangensis – west Mindanao in the Zamboanga Peninsula - Darker sides on face and a whiter throat
- L. c. unicolor – Luzon; Dark upperparts, rufous belly and a shorter tail
The birds in Luzon and Mindanao have vastly different calls and the potential of there is potential for these birds to be split into their own distinctive species.
Ecology and behavior
These birds feed on small insects. Forages alone or singly. Breeding season is unkwnon but young birds seen from February to September.[3]
Habitat and conservation status
It occupies montane mossy forest above 700 meters above sea level.
IUCN has assessed this bird as Least-concern as a lot of its montane habitat is difficult to access and it is reasonably common within its wide range. However, it is still declining due to habitat loss through deforestation, mining, land conversion and slash-and-burn.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Locustella caudata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22714549A94420274. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22714549A94420274.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Long-tailed Bush Warbler - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
- ^ Madge, Steve (2020). "Long-tailed Bush Warbler (Locustella caudata), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.ltbwar1.01species_shared.bow.project_name (inactive 1 November 2024). ISSN 2771-3105.
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- BirdLife International 2004. Bradypterus caudatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.