Locustella major
The Long-billed Bush Warbler (*Locustella major*) is a strikingly large and exceptionally secretive member of the family Locustellidae, a group encompassing the grasshopper and bush warblers. Measuring approximately 16-18 cm (6.3-7.1 inches) in length, it distinguishes itself with rather dull, streaked brown upperparts, plain whitish underparts, and a prominent pale supercilium, but most notably, its unusually long, stout bill which gives the species its name. Unlike many passerines, it exhib...
This intensely shy warbler primarily inhabits dense, damp vegetation, including tall reeds, thick grass, dense scrub, and wet meadows, often found near wetlands or rivers from lowlands up to subalpine zones.
It feeds almost exclusively on insects and other small invertebrates, meticulously gleaning them from dense foliage and stalks within its thick vegetative habitat.
Long-billed Bush Warblers are intensely secretive, spending almost all their time hidden deep within dense vegetation, making them notoriously difficult to observe. Males sing a distinctive, monotonous, insect-like reeling song, often from concealed perches, primarily to establish and defend terr...
The Long-billed Bush Warbler is an Old World species with a breeding range primarily spanning Central and parts of East Asia. It breeds from eastern Afghanistan and Tajikistan, across northern Pakistan, through the Himalayas of India (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), Nepal, and into weste...
Least Concern
- The "major" in its scientific name, *Locustella major*, refers to its comparatively large size among its *Locustella* relatives, making it one of the largest bush warblers. - Its extremely long, stout bill is a key distinguishing feature, earning it the common name "Long-billed Bush Warbler. - ...