The moustached grass warbler is a species of African warbler, formerly placed in the family Sylviidae.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Found widely across West, Central, and East Africa in tall grass savannas, moist grasslands, and reedbeds along rivers and wetlands. It favors areas with dense, rank grasses, often near water, and can occur in secondary growth and grassy edges of cultivation. It persists in seasonally flooded plains and papyrus margins where cover is ample. After fires, it uses regenerating grasses as they return to suitable height and density.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Often heard more than seen, the moustached grass warbler skulks through tall grasses and reeds, delivering a lively, far-carrying song. Its name comes from the bold pale 'moustache' stripe on the face. After grassland burns, it can quickly recolonize regenerating areas, taking advantage of new growth and insect flushes.
Nairobi National Park - Kenya
Temperament
skulking yet vocal
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats low over vegetation
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, maintaining territories within dense grass. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in thick vegetation. Both parents participate in nesting duties and provisioning.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A lively, varied series of whistles, trills, and chattering phrases delivered from concealed perches or brief song-flights. Calls include sharp ticks and scolds when alarmed.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with fine streaking on the crown and back, pale buff to whitish underparts with a light buff wash on the flanks, and a longish tail often held cocked. The face shows a distinct pale supercilium and a bold pale moustachial stripe bordered by darker malar.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders, gleaned from stems and leaves or picked from the ground. It occasionally takes other small invertebrates and may peck at seeds opportunistically. Foraging is deliberate but can become active when prey is flushed.
Preferred Environment
Dense tall grasses, reedbeds, and sedge margins where it can move under cover. Often forages near wetland edges and in grassy clearings with substantial litter and stem density.
