Image via Macaulay Library
Large-billed Reed Warbler
- Scientific name
- Acrocephalus orinus
- Family
- Acrocephalidae
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Habitat
- Wetland marsh
- Wing shape
- Narrow
- Tail shape
- Pointed
Where it came from
The Large-billed Reed Warbler has a storied history rooted in its extreme rarity. First described by Allan Octavian Hume in 1869 from a single specimen collected in the Sutlej Valley, the species remained a profound mystery for over a century. Long considered a ghost of the ornithological world, researchers speculated it might be an extinct species or a misidentified variant, as no other individuals were documented for decades.
The bird’s rediscovery in 2006 at the Phra Khao Chae trap facility in Thailand provided the first living data on the species, allowing scientists to confirm its identity through DNA analysis and comparative study. The species is characterized by its distinct, narrow wing shape and pointed tail, which are adaptations suited for its elusive lifestyle in reed beds. Today, it serves as a significant subject of study for migratory patterns in Central and South Asia, representing one of the most remarkable 'lost and found' narratives in avian history.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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