Middendorff's grasshopper warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It breeds in eastern Siberia to northern Japan, Kamchatka Peninsula and northern Kuril Islands. It winters in the Philippines, Borneo and Sulawesi and in small numbers in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and the U.S.A.
Region
Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds in eastern Siberia, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, and northern Japan in wet meadows, sedge marshes, and willow or dwarf-birch scrub. During migration it uses reedbeds, coastal thickets, and dense grassy habitats. In winter it frequents rank grass, secondary growth, forest edges, rice paddies, and marshy lowlands. It prefers dense, low vegetation where it forages close to the ground and remains well concealed.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named after the explorer Alexander von Middendorff, this elusive warbler is famous for its insect-like, mechanical reeling song that resembles a grasshopper. It skulks in dense grasses and sedges, often revealing itself only when singing at dawn or dusk. Long-distance movements take it from the Russian Far East and northern Japan to wintering grounds in the Philippines, Borneo, and Sulawesi.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, fluttering flights
Social Behavior
Mostly solitary or in pairs during breeding, with males singing from low perches in dense cover. Nests are placed near the ground in thick grass or sedge. Generally monogamous; both parents participate in caring for the young.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A sustained, insect-like reeling trill delivered from concealed perches, often at dusk and dawn. Calls are thin and ticking, with soft contact notes when moving through cover.
