Garrett's reed warbler, sometimes called the Society Islands reed warbler or Forster's reed-warbler, is an extinct species of reed warbler in the family Acrocephalidae. It was endemic to Raiatea and Huahine in the Society Islands.
Region
Society Islands, French Polynesia
Typical Environment
Historically restricted to the islands of Raiatea and Huahine, where it inhabited dense wet thickets, reedbeds, and swampy forest margins. It likely frequented riparian vegetation and lowland valleys with Hibiscus, Pandanus, and other native shrubs. The species may have tolerated secondary growth but relied on continuous cover near freshwater. Introduced predators and conversion of wetlands and lowland forests likely fragmented its already small range.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Garrett's reed warbler, also called the Society Islands reed warbler or Forster's reed-warbler, is an extinct Acrocephalus warbler once confined to Raiatea and Huahine in French Polynesia. It was named in honor of the naturalist Andrew Garrett, and the species was documented by early Pacific explorers, including the Forsters. Habitat loss and introduced predators (rats and cats) likely drove its decline. Much of what is known comes from historical specimens and accounts from the 18th–19th centuries.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low over cover
Social Behavior
Typically forms territorial pairs during the breeding season, keeping to dense vegetation. Nests were likely deep, cup-shaped structures suspended in reeds or placed low in shrubs. Both parents probably shared incubation and chick-rearing, as in related reed warblers.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A fast, scratchy, chattering warble with varied phrases and mimicry typical of Acrocephalus warblers. Males likely sang from concealed perches within dense vegetation; calls included dry ticks and churrs.
Plumage
Plain warm-brown upperparts with paler buff to whitish underparts; smooth, unstreaked appearance. A subtle pale supercilium contrasts with a slightly darker eye-line; wings and tail show warmer rufous tones at the edges.
Diet
Primarily small invertebrates such as insects, spiders, and their larvae gleaned from leaves, stems, and reed surfaces. It likely probed into flower heads and leaf axils and occasionally sallied for flying insects. Small fruits or nectar may have been taken opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense reeds, riparian thickets, and swampy understory, usually close to freshwater. Often forages at low to mid-levels inside cover, moving methodically through tangles and reed stems.
