Acrocephalus melanopogon
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.
Length
12cm to 13cm
Wingspan
15cm to 18cm
Weight
9g to 14g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Brown White
Secondary Colour
Black Buff
Beak Colour
Brown
Leg Colour
Brown
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
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.
Up to 1,000 meters
Temperate, Mediterranean
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:
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