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Moustached Warbler

Least Concern

Acrocephalus melanopogon

With its distinctive dark 'moustache' stripe, this small, secretive warbler thrives in dense reedbeds across Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Moustached Warbler is a small, slender bird with distinctive markings. Its upperparts are rich brown, contrasting with a white throat and underparts. The head features a bold black-and-white striped pattern, with a prominent white eyebrow and dark eye-line.

Both sexes look similar, with no significant seasonal changes in plumage; the only way to tell the sexes apart is through behaviour, such as courtship and nest-building. Juveniles resemble adults but have a slightly duller overall appearance and less defined facial markings.

Size

Length

12cm to 13cm

Wingspan

15cm to 18cm

Weight

9g to 14g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Black Buff

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Moustached Warbler can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Moustached Warbler is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Moustached Warblers inhabit dense reedbeds and other wetland vegetation around freshwater, brackish marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. They are found across southern Europe, parts of North Africa, and extend eastward into Central Asia.

In winter, many European populations move to warmer Mediterranean regions, while some birds in milder areas may be resident year-round. In the UK, they are rare vagrants, occasionally spotted in southern coastal areas.

Sightings of moustached warblers are so scarce in the UK that the species has now been removed from the official list of British birds.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Moustached Warbler. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons