Nightingale reed warbler

Overview

Wikipedia

The nightingale reed warbler, or Guam reed-warbler, is an extinct songbird that was endemic to Guam.

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Distribution

Region

Mariana Islands

Typical Environment

Historically restricted to lowland wetlands, marshy edges, and dense riparian thickets on Guam. It favored stands of reeds, tall grasses, and secondary growth near freshwater. Birds foraged within tangled vegetation and along stream margins, occasionally venturing into adjacent shrublands. After the mid-20th century, records dwindled rapidly as suitable habitat fragmented and predators proliferated.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 300 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size16–19 cm

Wing Span22–25 cm

Male Weight0.022 kg

Female Weight0.02 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called the Guam reed-warbler, this species was confined to Guam and is now extinct. It inhabited dense reedbeds and thickets near freshwater, where it delivered a rich, melodious song that inspired its common name. Likely drivers of its extinction include habitat loss and predation from introduced species, especially the brown tree snake.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats, usually low over vegetation

Social Behavior

Typically maintained territories in dense cover and was seldom seen in large groups. It nested low in reeds or shrubs, building a cup-shaped nest supported by stems. Pairs were likely monogamous during the breeding season, with both adults feeding the young.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A rich, varied warble with liquid notes, whistles, and trills, delivered from concealed perches or low song posts. The song was persistent during the breeding season and carried well over wetlands.

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Identification

Leg Colorblackish-grey

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Plain brown upperparts with warmer olive-brown tones and buffy underparts; subtly paler throat and belly. Feathers appear smooth and close-textured, aiding a sleek, skulking profile in reeds.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Primarily insects and other small arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. It gleaned prey from leaves and stems and occasionally made short sallies to capture flying insects. Opportunistic feeding likely included soft-bodied invertebrates taken near the water’s edge.

Preferred Environment

Foraged within dense reeds, tall grasses, and tangled shrubbery along streams, ponds, and marsh margins. Often stayed low and inside cover, probing and gleaning among stems and foliage.

Population

Total Known PopulationExtinct; last confirmed records from the late 1960s

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