Layard's warbler

Layard's warbler or Layard's tit-babbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the family Sylviidae. It is found in Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Southern Africa

Typical Environment

It inhabits arid and semi-arid shrublands including Karoo and Namaqualand scrub, as well as edges of fynbos and thornveld. The species keeps close to dense, spiny bushes and dwarf shrubs where it gleans arthropods from foliage and stems. It also occurs along dry river courses, farm hedgerows, and rocky slopes with scattered scrub. Human-modified landscapes with intact shrub patches can still support local populations.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2200 m

Climate Zone

Arid

Characteristics

Size13–15 cm

Wing Span16–19 cm

Male Weight0.012 kg

Female Weight0.011 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Layard's warbler, also known as Layard's tit-babbler, is a small, active Old World warbler of arid scrublands in southern Africa. It often forages low in thorny bushes, flicking its tail to reveal contrasting white outer tail feathers. Pairs maintain territories year-round and can be surprisingly vocal from the cover of shrubs. Its adaptability to Karoo and Namaqualand scrub has helped keep its population stable.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

skulking yet active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats between bushes

Social Behavior

Usually found in territorial pairs or small family groups. Nests low in dense shrubs, with a cup of fine plant material. Both parents participate in feeding the young, and pairs may hold the same territory across seasons.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

The song is a scratchy, varied warble interspersed with rattles and trills, often delivered from within shrub cover or a low perch. Calls include sharp tacks and scolding chatters when alarmed.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Laysan albatross

The Laysan albatross is a large seabird that ranges across the North Pacific. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are home to 99.7% of the population. This small gull-like albatross is the second-most common seabird in the Hawaiian Islands, with an estimated population of 1.18 million birds, and is currently expanding its range to new islands. The Laysan albatross was first described as Diomedea immutabilis by Lionel Walter Rothschild, in 1893, on the basis of a specimen from Laysan Island.

Laysan duck

The Laysan duck, also known as the Laysan teal, is a dabbling duck endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Fossil evidence reveals that Laysan ducks once lived across the entire archipelago, but today survive only on Laysan Island and two atolls. The duck has several physical and behavioral traits linked to the absence of ground-based predators in its habitat. By 1860, the ducks had disappeared from everywhere except Laysan Island. The introduction of European rabbits by guano miners at the end of the 19th century brought the bird to the brink of extinction in 1912, with twelve surviving individuals. Rabbits were eradicated from the island in 1923 and numbers of Laysan ducks began to rise, reaching 500 by the 1950s. In an effort to ensure the long-term future of this duck, 42 birds were translocated to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in 2002. These thrived in their new surroundings, and another group were later relocated to Kure Atoll.

Laysan finch

The Laysan finch is a species of Hawaiian honeycreeper, that is endemic to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is one of four remaining finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreepers and is closely related to the smaller Nihoa finch. The Laysan finch is named for Laysan, the island to which it was endemic on its discovery. It was subsequently introduced to a few other atolls, and its historical range included some of the main islands.

Laysan honeycreeper

The Laysan honeycreeper, also known as the Laysan ʻapapane or Laysan honeyeater, is an extinct species of finch that was endemic to the island of Laysan in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The bird was first recorded in 1828, and in 1892 it received its scientific name from Walter Rothschild, who placed it in the genus Himatione along with the ʻapapane. The specific name, fraithii, refers to George D. Freeth, the self-appointed governor of Laysan, but was misspelled. Rothschild attempted to emend it to freethi in a later publication. This was accepted by most subsequent authors throughout the 20th century, and the bird was also considered a subspecies of the ʻapapane, as H. sanguinea freethii, for most of this time. By the 21st century, after further research, the original name was reinstated and it was considered a full species again. As a Hawaiian honeycreeper, a grouping within the finch subfamily Carduelinae, its ancestors are thought to have come from Asia.

Laysan rail

The Laysan rail or Laysan crake is an extinct species flightless rail endemic to the Northwest Hawaiian Island of Laysan. This small island was and still is an important seabird colony, and sustained a number of endemic species, including the rail. It became extinct due to habitat loss by domestic rabbits, and the introduction of rats to Midway during the Second World War.