Upcher's warbler

Upcher's warbler is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus Hippolais. It breeds in an area from Turkey south and east to Pakistan. It is migratory, wintering in eastern Africa, from Eritrea and Somalia south to Tanzania.

Loading map...

Distribution

Region

Middle East to East Africa

Typical Environment

Breeds in semi-arid and steppe-like habitats from southern Turkey through Syria and Iraq to Iran, Afghanistan, and western Pakistan. During the non-breeding season it moves to eastern Africa, occurring from Eritrea and Somalia south to Kenya and northern Tanzania. It favors dry scrub, thorny thickets, wadis, rocky slopes with scattered bushes, orchards, and open woodland edges. In winter it uses similar shrubby and bushy habitats, often near dry riverbeds or lightly wooded savanna. It is frequently encountered in areas with acacia and tamarisk.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Arid

Characteristics

Size15–17 cm

Wing Span22–25 cm

Male Weight0.017 kg

Female Weight0.016 kg

Life Expectancy5 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Upcher's warbler is a long-tailed, rather plain warbler known for its distinctive habit of flicking and fanning the tail while foraging. It breeds from Turkey eastward to Pakistan and migrates to spend the non-breeding season in eastern Africa. Its song is a scratchy, varied warble delivered from shrubs or low trees. It is often difficult to see well, keeping low in semi-arid scrub and stony hillsides.

Gallery

Hippolais languida - MHNT

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive but active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats between low perches

Social Behavior

Typically seen singly or in pairs during the breeding season and is territorial. It nests low in dense shrubs, building a neat cup of grasses and plant fibers. Clutches usually contain 3–5 eggs, and both parents feed the young. Outside the breeding season it may join loose mixed-species foraging groups in suitable scrub.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Song is a scratchy, variable warble with chattering phrases and occasional harsher notes, delivered from cover or an exposed shrub top. Calls include dry tacks and soft churring notes. The rhythm can be repetitive but with subtle improvisation.

Unlock detailed bird insights with Pro access today.

Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Upland buzzard

The upland buzzard is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. The largest species of the Buteo genus, this buzzard lives in mountainous grassy and rocky areas in areas of Central Asia, northern South Asia and East Asia from Kazakhstan to Korea. The upland buzzard is migratory but typically covers a short distance apparently to avoid snow cover that may hamper prey capture. This species primarily subsists on small mammals but does not shun alternate prey from small to large birds and insects. This little known raptor has a large range, and though generally uncommon, it is not thought to be rare or declining as a species. As a result it is classified as least concern by the IUCN.

Upland goose

The upland goose or Magellan goose is a sheldgoose of the shelduck-sheldgoose subfamily of the Anatidae, the biological family that includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl such as the geese and swans. Sheldgeese resemble true geese and display similar habits, yet they are more closely related to shelducks and ducks. The two recognized subspecies of upland goose are the continental picta subspecies and the insular (island) leucoptera subspecies.

Upland sandpiper

The upland sandpiper is a large sandpiper, closely related to the curlews. Older names are the upland plover and Bartram's sandpiper. In Louisiana, it is also colloquially known as the papabotte. It is the sole extant member of the genus Bartramia. The genus name and the old common name Bartram's sandpiper commemorate the American naturalist William Bartram. The species name longicauda is from Latin longus, "long" and caudus, "tail". The name "Bartram's sandpiper" was made popular by Alexander Wilson, who was taught ornithology and natural history illustration by Bartram.

Ural owl

The Ural owl is a large nocturnal owl. It is a member of the true owl family, Strigidae. The Ural owl is a member of the genus Strix, that is also the origin of the family's name under Linnaean taxonomy. Both its common name and scientific name refer to the Ural Mountains of Russia where the type specimen was collected. However, this species has an extremely broad distribution that extends as far west as much of Scandinavia, montane eastern Europe, and, sporadically, central Europe, thence sweeping across the Palearctic broadly through Russia to as far east as Sakhalin and throughout Japan. The Ural owl may include up to 15 subspecies, but most likely the number may be slightly fewer if accounting for clinal variations.

Urrao antpitta

The Urrao antpitta, also known as Fenwick's antpitta, is a highly threatened species of bird found in the understory of cloud forest in the Andean highlands of Colombia. The first published description used the scientific name Grallaria fenwickorum ; shortly afterward, a second description using the name Grallaria urraoensis was published. The editors of the latter recognized that the name likely was a junior synonym, but others have questioned the validity of the first description, and various authorities, including the International Ornithological Congress, have adopted G. urraoensis. Antioquia antpitta has been suggested as an English-language name compromise.