The Dja River scrub warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Gabon. Its natural habitat is swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Region
Congo Basin, Central Africa
Typical Environment
It inhabits swampy lowland wetlands, including riverine marshes, flooded grasslands, and dense sedge and reed beds along slow-moving rivers. The species prefers thick tangles of emergent vegetation and shrubby edges where it can move under cover. It often stays close to the waterline, weaving through stems and leaf litter. It is patchily distributed where suitable swamp habitat persists amid forested landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This elusive warbler skulks deep in dense swamp vegetation along the Dja River basin and is far more often heard than seen. Its range is small and fragmented across swampy lowlands of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Gabon. Ongoing drainage, river modification, and conversion of wetlands threaten its habitat, making careful wetland protection key to its survival.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, brief dashes between cover
Social Behavior
Typically encountered as solitary birds or in pairs, especially during the breeding season when territories are defended in dense marsh. Nests are placed low in reeds or sedges, well hidden above water or damp ground. Parents cooperate in rearing the brood and remain secretive around the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is an insect-like, repetitive series of trills and buzzes delivered from deep cover. Calls include dry ticks and sharp chips, often the first clue to its presence.
Plumage
Plain, soft-textured plumage with dusky brown upperparts and paler, buffy underparts; faint mottling or streaking may be present on the breast. Tail is relatively long and often held cocked, with rounded wings suited for short flights through dense cover.
Diet
Primarily consumes small invertebrates such as insects, spiders, and larvae gleaned from stems, leaves, and the water’s edge. It probes among sedges and reeds and occasionally picks prey from the surface of floating vegetation. Small aquatic invertebrates are taken opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense swamp vegetation, especially in sedge and reed beds along slow rivers and marsh margins. Often forages close to the ground or low over water, staying concealed while moving methodically through cover.
