Fun Moustached Warbler Facts For Kids

Birds ruling the sky have always won several hearts, and one of these birds is a moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon. It was first documented by Temminck in 1823.

It is a medium-sized bird with a length up to 4.7-5.3 in (12-13.5 cm), wingspan as long as 7 in (18 cm), and weight ranging between 0.3-0.4 oz (10-14 g). It has several names in other languages such as mariskenrohrsänger, forapaglie castagnolo, carricerín real, and tamarisksanger.

Also, it has three known subspecies:  Acrocephalus melanopogon melanopogon, Acrocephalus melanopogon mimicus, and Acrocephalus melanopogon albiventris.

It is one of the Least Concern species under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and inhabits Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is quite uncommon in the north of its range. The bird is quite similar to the sedge warbler and reed warbler.

If the uniqueness of the moustached warbler makes you interested to read more about similar species, you can read about palm cockatoo and Cape may warbler.

Moustached Warbler Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a moustached warbler?

The moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, is one of the rare birds with quite limited information recorded. It has three subspecies which are Acrocephalus melanopogon melanopogon, Acrocephalus melanopogon mimicus, and Acrocephalus melanopogon albiventris.

What class of animal does a moustached warbler belong to?

The moustached warbler belongs to the class Aves, order Passeriformes, and the family genus Acrocephalidae.

How many moustached warblers are there in the world?

While the distribution range of the moustached warblers from the order Passeriformes around the world is not quantified, the bird also has several subspecies. The conservation status of moustached warblers is listed as Least Concern under the IUCN List.

Where does a moustached warbler live?

The moustached warbler range map highlights Europe, Asia, and north and west of Africa. The distribution is quite a rare resident in the north of its range map.

The species are recorded to be partially migratory. While the subspecies residing in southeast Europe move to Meditteranean in winters, and subspecies inhabiting Asia migrate to Arabia, India, or Pakistan, the southwest European birds do not migrate.

What is a moustached warbler's habitat?

The moustached warbler habitat comprises vegetation such as sedge beds or reedbeds.

Who do moustached warblers live with?

The moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, neither lives a typical solitary life nor lives in big huge flocks. The distribution of birds is quite common within human habilitation but still remains one of the rarest species.

How long does a moustached warbler live?

The lifespan of the moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, is not recorded so far. On the other hand, a pink cockatoo is speculated to be the longest living species around the world.

How do they reproduce?

While the moustached warbler is one of the poorly studied birds, there is limited information about the breeding and reproductive mechanism of the birds. The distribution of birds breeds in southern Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

More specifically, it breeds in vegetation such as sedge and reed. The breeding is speculated to take place in pairs.

Also, the breeding season of the adult species of birds may vary around the winter season. Furthermore, the species of birds lay up to three to six eggs and the incubation period varies up to 14-15 days.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck, 1823), is listed as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, hence is not Endangered. According to the records, it is a rare species and is not at any major risk.

Moustached Warbler Fun Facts

What do moustached warblers look like?

The moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, from the family genus Acrocephalidae is often mistaken either as a sedge warbler or reed warbler. The scientific records report the birds to have white throats with dark cheeks assisting in the identification of the species.

Also, it has a dark crown often black or brown in color, warm rufous sides, and a dark cocked tail. Its bill is pointed with a light color, and it has dark legs.

How cute are they?

You may have not seen a moustached warbler, but the small size of the bird is sure to attract you. It is an adorable species with a moustached face. It is often confused with a sedge warbler or paddyfield warbler but is quite large than its size.

How do they communicate?

The moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, is speculated to communicate using vocalizations such as singing the song or its chasing calls. It has a dry call that sounds like 'trrrrt' which resembles the song of a reed warbler. However, unlike a sedge warbler, it does not sing the song in flight.

How big is a moustached warbler?

While the length of the moustached warbler from the genus Acrocephalusis is recorded to be as long as 4.7-5.3 in (12-13.5 cm), the length of its wingspan is as long as 7 in (18 cm).

How fast can a moustached warbler fly?

The scientific records lack an estimated flying speed, the species of moustached warbler from the genus Acrocephalusis is speculated to be capable fliers. While there is quite limited information recorded about its flights, it is seen that the birds don't sing the song during its flight.

On the other hand, records highlight the peregrine falcon is the fastest flying species among the birds around the world.

How much does a moustached warbler weigh?

The moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck, 1823), is a poorly studied species and it is quite rare to be seen. On the other hand, according to scientific records, its weight is recorded to range between 0.3-0.4 oz (10-14 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

In the species of moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, a male can be called a rooster, while a moustached warbler female can be called a hen. Also, it has various names in different languages, like mariskenrohrsänger in German, forapaglie castagnolo in Italian, carricerín real in Spanish, and tamarisksanger in Norwegian.

What would you call a baby moustached warbler?

The baby moustached warbler lacks specific names, and it is often called a nestling, fledgling, hatchling, or chick.

What do they eat?

A moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon, is one of the wild species which consumes a variety of species of arthropods. It feeds on water beetles, snails, and other arthropods which range around vegetation near the surface of the water.

Are they dangerous?

While the species of moustached warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck, 1823), is quite adaptive to human habilitation, it neither shy away from humans nor does it possess any danger. On the contrary, it is predatory as the moustached warbler diet comprises various arthropods which it preys and feeds upon.

Would they make a good pet?

Birds are advised to be kept free with granted freedom. Specifically, a moustached warbler is a wild species preying upon Arthropods and is not found living in captivity.

There are no records highlighting whether the bird can be petted or not. Also, it is a poorly studied and rare bird around the world and is not a popular species either to be preferred as a pet.

Did you know...

The moustached warbler is poorly studied with very limited information documented. While it was first documented in 1823 by a dutch zoologist, Temminck, it has three subspecies recorded so far - Acrocephalus melanopogon melanopogon, Acrocephalus melanopogon mimicus, and Acrocephalus melanopogon albiventris.

Warblers are the species of various songbirds.

Do moustached warblers migrate?

While the moustached warbler resides in southern Europe, southern Asia, and north and west of Africa, it is speculated that the species of moustached warbler migrate. However, the bird is only partially migratory as it is found to migrate over short distances. On the other contrary, subspecies inhabiting southwest Europe do not migrate.

How did moustached warblers get their name?

The dark cheeks and a white throat helps in the identification of the moustached warbler and differentiates it from a sedge warbler. The dark cheeks along its bill appear as its moustache which justifies its name.

On the other hand, its scientific name has a Greek origin. While the genus name 'Acrocephalus' is a compound word formed from two Greek terms 'akros' and 'kephale' meaning 'pointed' and 'head', respectively, 'melanopogon' means 'one with the black beard'.

The scientific name of the bird highlights its pointed head, bill, and black beard. It was first documented by Temminck in 1823.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these palm warbler facts and blackpoll warbler facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Moustached warbler coloring pages.