Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler

Locustella certhiola (Pallas, 1811)

2015-06-11 Krasnoyarsk.	© Igor Latysh

Description

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler is rare breeding migrant. It inhabits wet meadows and marshes with tall grass and scattered bushes and trees at 800-2100 m. On migration occurs in reed beds. Appears in mid-June. It breeds in separate pairs. Nest is built in dwarf birch bushes at 5-20 cm above ground, or in sedge tussock; from dry grass. Clutches of 4-6 eggs is founded in end of June - late July. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge in July - August. In autumn Pallas' Grasshopper Warbler leaves breeding places in late August - early September. On Alakol lake it recorded in end July - late August, near Dzharkent in end August - early September.

Biology

Male and female of Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler in breeding plumage have brownish-grey upperparts; with slightly darker head and brownish uppertail. Nape is grayish, some paler in male. Supecillium is buffy-grey. Head, nape and fore part of back have dark core-spots dispersed on uppertail. Flight feathers are brownish with pale edges. On brownish tail feathers (central pair is rusty-brown or clay-brown) the dark pre-terminal and pale terminal strips are well appreciable; sometimes tail feathers are slightly barred. Underparts are buffy-white, slightly brownish tinged on flanks. Undertail are buffy. Underwings are grayish-white. Upper mandible is dark, low mandible is yellowish, legs are pale, eyes are pale-brown. Juveniles have yellowish tone on underparts and streaks on throat and breast.

References