The spotted bush warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is found in the northern Himalayas, Yunnan and central China, in the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal. Its natural habitat is arboreal forests.
Region
Himalayas and south-central China
Typical Environment
Occurs from the northern Himalayas across Nepal, Bhutan, northeast India, and adjacent Bangladesh and Myanmar, extending into Yunnan and central China. Prefers dense montane scrub, forest edges, rhododendron and bamboo thickets, and overgrown clearings. In winter or the nonbreeding season it may descend to lower elevations, using tea gardens, secondary growth, and brushy valleys. It is a secretive undergrowth specialist that avoids open canopy forest.
Altitude Range
1000–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-loving Old World warbler, the spotted bush warbler keeps to dense undergrowth and is more often heard than seen. Its song is a buzzy, reeling trill typical of Locustella warblers, delivered from concealed perches. It inhabits the northern Himalayas through Yunnan and central China, using montane scrub and bamboo thickets. The species is generally considered of low conservation concern.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct through cover
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs during the breeding season. Nests are placed low in dense vegetation, often in grass tussocks or bamboo, with both adults tending the young. Territorial males sing from hidden perches within thickets.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A sustained, insect-like reeling trill interspersed with buzzy phrases, usually delivered from deep cover. Calls include sharp ticks and soft churrs that can be hard to locate.
Plumage
Warm brown to olive-brown upperparts with fine streaking; underparts buffy to grayish with bold dark spotting and streaks on the throat and breast, fading toward the belly. Feathers appear soft and loosely textured, aiding camouflage in dense cover.
Diet
Primarily small insects and other invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and ants. It gleans prey from leaves, stems, and the ground, and will probe leaf litter in shaded spots. Occasional consumption of small seeds or berries may occur but is incidental.
Preferred Environment
Feeds within dense shrubs, bamboo, and grass thickets where it can stay concealed. Edges of montane forest, overgrown clearings, and scrubby slopes are favored for foraging.
