Bradypterus
Encyclopedia
Bradypterus is a genus
of small insectivorous songbird
s ("warbler
s") in the newly recognized grass warbler family
(Locustellidae). They were formerly placed in the Sylviidae
, which at that time was a wastebin taxon
for the warbler-like Sylvioidea
. The range of this genus extends through the warm regions from Africa
around the Indian Ocean
and far into Asia
.
The megalurid bush-warblers are related to the grass-warblers of Locustella and Megalurus
, but share lifestyle and related adaptations and apomorphies with Cettia
, the other genus of bush-warblers. These belong to an older lineage of Sylvioidea. Both "bush-warbler" genera are smallish birds well adapted to glimbing among shrub
bery. They are markedly long-tailed birds, at first glance somewhat reminiscent of wren
s.
These are quite terrestrial birds, which live in densely vegetated habitats
like thick forest and reedbeds. The will walk away from disturbance rather than flush. The plumage
similarities and skulking lifestyle makes these birds hard to see and identify.
Megalurid bush-warblers tend towards greyish browns above and buffish or light grey tones below. They have little patterning apart from the ubiquitous supercilium
. Altogether, they appear much like the plainer species among Acrocephalus
marsh-warblers in coloration. Cettid bush-warblers tend to be somewhat more compact, with less pointed tails, but are otherwise very similar.
, "Bradypterus" victorini, does not belong into that genus. In fact, it seems to belong into a distinct family not even closely related to Bradypterus, and including such birds as the crombecs (Sylvietta) and longbills (Macrosphenus
). A new genus would need to be established for Victorin's Scrub-warbler, but this has not happened yet. The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler
is sometimes placed in this genus but is now placed in its own, montotypic genus Elaphrornis.
Others, like the Chestnut-backed Bush-warbler
and the Chinese Bush-warbler
, appear to belong in Locustella.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of small insectivorous songbird
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
s ("warbler
Warbler
There are a number of Passeriformes called "warblers". They are not particularly closely related, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, vocal and insectivorous....
s") in the newly recognized grass warbler family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Locustellidae). They were formerly placed in the Sylviidae
Sylviidae
Sylviidae is a family of passerine birds that was part of an assemblage known as the Old World warblers. The family was formerly a wastebin taxon with over 400 species of bird in over 70 genera. The family was poorly defined with many characteristics shared with other families...
, which at that time was a wastebin taxon
Wastebin taxon
Wastebasket taxon is a term used in some taxonomic circles to refer to a taxon that has the sole purpose of classifying organisms that do not fit anywhere else. They are typically defined by their lack of one or more distinct character states or by their not belonging to one or more other taxa...
for the warbler-like Sylvioidea
Sylvioidea
Sylvioidea is a superfamily of passerine birds. It is one of at least three major clades within the Passerida along with the Muscicapoidea and Passeroidea. It contains about 1300 species including the Old World warblers, Old World babblers, swallows, larks, bulbuls and perhaps the tits...
. The range of this genus extends through the warm regions from Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
around the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
and far into Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
The megalurid bush-warblers are related to the grass-warblers of Locustella and Megalurus
Megalurus
Megalurus is a genus of passerine bird in the family Locustellidae. The genus was once placed in the Old World warbler "wastebin" family Sylviidae. The genus contains six species also known as the typical grassbirds...
, but share lifestyle and related adaptations and apomorphies with Cettia
Cettia
Cettia is a genus of small insectivorous songbirds which make up the core of the newly recognized family Cettiidae. They were formerly placed in the Sylviidae, which at that time was a wastebin taxon for the warbler-like Sylvioidea. The range of this genus extends from Europe to the western Pacific...
, the other genus of bush-warblers. These belong to an older lineage of Sylvioidea. Both "bush-warbler" genera are smallish birds well adapted to glimbing among shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
bery. They are markedly long-tailed birds, at first glance somewhat reminiscent of wren
Wren
The wrens are passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. There are approximately 80 species of true wrens in approximately 20 genera....
s.
These are quite terrestrial birds, which live in densely vegetated habitats
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
like thick forest and reedbeds. The will walk away from disturbance rather than flush. The plumage
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
similarities and skulking lifestyle makes these birds hard to see and identify.
Megalurid bush-warblers tend towards greyish browns above and buffish or light grey tones below. They have little patterning apart from the ubiquitous supercilium
Supercilium
The supercilium is a plumage feature found on the heads of some bird species. It is a stripe which runs from the base of the bird's beak above its eye, finishing somewhere towards the rear of the bird's head. Also known as an "eyebrow", it is distinct from the eyestripe, which is a line which runs...
. Altogether, they appear much like the plainer species among Acrocephalus
Acrocephalus
The Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae...
marsh-warblers in coloration. Cettid bush-warblers tend to be somewhat more compact, with less pointed tails, but are otherwise very similar.
Species
This genus is in need of revision. Victorin's Scrub-warblerVictorin's Scrub-warbler
The Victorin's Warbler , or Victorin's Scrub-warbler is a species of African Warbler, formerly placed in the Sylviidae family...
, "Bradypterus" victorini, does not belong into that genus. In fact, it seems to belong into a distinct family not even closely related to Bradypterus, and including such birds as the crombecs (Sylvietta) and longbills (Macrosphenus
Macrosphenus
Macrosphenus is a genus of African warblers, formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. The genus is one of two in that family known as longbills.It contains the following species:* Grey Longbill...
). A new genus would need to be established for Victorin's Scrub-warbler, but this has not happened yet. The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler
Sri Lanka Bush Warbler
The Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Ceylon Bush Warbler or Palliser's Warbler is an Old World warbler which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka, where it is the only bush warbler...
is sometimes placed in this genus but is now placed in its own, montotypic genus Elaphrornis.
Others, like the Chestnut-backed Bush-warbler
Chestnut-backed Bush-warbler
The Chestnut-backed Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found only in Indonesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
and the Chinese Bush-warbler
Chinese Bush-warbler
The Chinese Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Megaluridae family.It is found in China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
, appear to belong in Locustella.
- African Bush-warblerAfrican Bush-warblerThe African Bush-warbler or Little Rush-Warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family....
, Bradypterus baboecala - Ja River Scrub-warblerJa River Scrub-warblerThe Ja River Scrub-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon.Its natural habitat is swamps.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Bradypterus grandis - White-winged Scrub-warblerWhite-winged Scrub-warblerThe White-winged Swamp Warbler , also known as the White-winged Scrub-warbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is swamps.-References:* BirdLife...
, Bradypterus carpalis - Grauer's Scrub-warblerGrauer's Scrub-warblerThe Grauer's Scrub-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda....
, Bradypterus graueri - Bamboo Scrub-warblerBamboo Scrub-warblerThe Bamboo Warbler or Bamboo Scrub-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia....
, Bradypterus alfredi - Knysna Scrub-warbler or Knysna Warbler, Bradypterus sylvaticus
- Cameroon Scrub-warblerCameroon Scrub-warblerThe Cameroon Scrub-Warbler is a grass warbler species in the family Locustellidae. It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage. The Evergreen Forest Warbler The Cameroon Scrub-Warbler (Bradypterus lopezi) is a grass warbler species in the family Locustellidae. It was formerly...
, Bradypterus lopezi - Evergreen Forest WarblerEvergreen Forest WarblerThe Evergreen Forest Warbler, Bradypterus mariae, is a species of Old World warbler found in Africa. Its natural habitat is moist forest or shrubland.It was recently split from the Cameroon Scrub-warbler, Bradypterus lopezi....
, Bradypterus mariae (formerly in B. lopezi) - African Scrub-warblerAfrican Scrub-warblerThe African Scrub-warbler , also known as the Barratt's Warbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family. It is found in Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. ....
, Bradypterus barratti - Bangwa Scrub-warblerBangwa Scrub-warblerThe Bangwa Scrub-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria....
, Bradypterus bangwaensis - Cinnamon Bracken-warblerCinnamon Bracken-warblerThe Cinnamon Bracken-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and...
, Bradypterus cinnamomeus - Spotted Bush-warblerSpotted Bush-warblerThe Spotted Bush-warbler or Baikal Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family....
, Bradypterus thoracicus - David's Bush-warblerDavid's Bush-warblerThe David's Bush-warbler is a migratoryspecies of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It breeds in northeast China from southern Heilungkiang south to southern Hopeh and winters from southern China south to northern Thailand.Its natural habitat is boreal forests.-References:P.D. Round...
, Bradypterus davidi - Long-billed Bush-warblerLong-billed Bush-warblerThe Long-billed Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found in China, India, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Bradypterus major - Chinese Bush-warblerChinese Bush-warblerThe Chinese Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Megaluridae family.It is found in China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
, Bradypterus tacsanowskius - Benguet Bush-warblerBenguet Bush-warblerThe Benguet Bush-warbler is a songbird species. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it is now placed in the newly-recognized family Locustellidae. B. seebohmi was formerly known as Russet Bush-warbler, but that name is now restricted to B. mandelli, formerly included in B...
, Bradypterus seebohmi - Timor Bush-warbler, Bradypterus timorensis (formerly in B. seebohmi)
- Russet Bush-warblerRusset Bush-warblerThe Russet Bush-warbler is a songbird species. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it is now placed in the newly-recognized family Locustellidae. B. mandelli was until recently considered a subspecies of B. seebohmi, and the name "Russet Bush-warbler" was applied to the entire...
, Bradypterus mandelli (formerly in B. seebohmi) - Javan Bush-warbler, Bradypterus montis (formerly in B. seebohmi)
- Brown Bush-warblerBrown Bush-warblerThe Brown Bush-warbler is a songbird species. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it is now placed in the newly-recognized family Locustellidae....
, Bradypterus luteoventris - Taiwan Bush-warblerTaiwan Bush-warblerThe Taiwan Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family. It is found only in Taiwan.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:...
, Bradypterus alishanensis - Friendly Bush-warblerFriendly Bush-warblerThe Friendly Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found only in Malaysia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Bradypterus accentor - Long-tailed Bush-warblerLong-tailed Bush-warblerThe Long-tailed Bush-warbler is a species of grass warbler . It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage.It is found only in the Philippines.-References:...
, Bradypterus caudatus - Chestnut-backed Bush-warblerChestnut-backed Bush-warblerThe Chestnut-backed Bush-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Locustellidae family.It is found only in Indonesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Bradypterus castaneus