The Sulawesi bush warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the family Locustellidae. It is endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia where it is found on the forest floor.
Region
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Typical Environment
Endemic to the island of Sulawesi, where it inhabits montane and submontane forests with dense understory. It favors mossy forest floors, bamboo thickets, and thick tangles along ravines and streams. The species is typically associated with intact or lightly disturbed forest, but can persist in secondary growth if cover is dense. It forages close to the ground and rarely ventures into open areas.
Altitude Range
800–2300 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy ground-dwelling warbler, the Sulawesi bush warbler keeps to dense undergrowth and is more often heard than seen. Its song is a fine, insect-like trill typical of Locustellidae, delivered from low perches or hidden cover. It plays an important ecological role by controlling forest-floor invertebrates.
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, maintaining small territories in dense cover. Nests are placed low, often near the ground in thick vegetation. Breeding pairs are monogamous for the season, with the male singing from concealed perches to advertise territory.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, insect-like trill or reeling series, steady and prolonged, often delivered at dawn or dusk. Calls include soft ticks and chips given from within cover.
Plumage
Warm brown to chestnut-brown upperparts with a more buffy to grayish-brown underside; feathers soft and plain with minimal streaking. Undertail coverts often show subtle barring; wings are short and rounded with a relatively long, slightly rounded tail.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects and other invertebrates such as beetles, ants, spiders, and larvae. It gleans prey from leaf litter and low foliage and will probe among moss, roots, and bamboo sheaths. Foraging is methodical and close to the ground, with short dashes between cover.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of montane and submontane forests, especially bamboo, vine tangles, and mossy ground near streams and forest edges. Avoids open ground and spends most time within thick cover.
