Photo: Maans Booysen, Birding Weto / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Swamp Warbler
Acrocephalus rufescens
Greater Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus rufescens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus rufescens) is a member of the Acrocephalidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 22.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Acrocephalidae Reed Warblers & Allies
- Genus Acrocephalus
- Species rufescens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Acrocephalidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Swamp Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Greater Swamp Warbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Greater Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus rufescens) is a species of bird in the Acrocephalidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.7 g, with a wing length of about 7.2 cm and a tail of around 6.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Swamp Warbler?
The Greater Swamp Warbler is a small bird that weighs around 22.7 g.
Where does the Greater Swamp Warbler live?
The Greater Swamp Warbler is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Greater Swamp Warbler belong to?
The Greater Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus rufescens) belongs to the Acrocephalidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Greater Swamp Warbler eat?
The Greater Swamp Warbler is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Greater Swamp Warbler migrate?
The Greater Swamp Warbler is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Greater Swamp Warbler endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Greater Swamp Warbler make?
1 real field recording of the Greater Swamp Warbler — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Greater Swamp Warbler's range?
The Greater Swamp Warbler has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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