Photo: WJMcBride / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Marsh Grassbird
Helopsaltes pryeri
Marsh Grassbird (Helopsaltes pryeri) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Marsh Grassbird (Helopsaltes pryeri) is a member of the Locustellidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 14.2 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 Locustellidae Grassbirds & Allies
- Genus Helopsaltes
- Species pryeri
Where it lives
Northeastern Mongolia to Primorskiy (far southeastern Russia), northeastern, eastern China and Honshu (central Japan)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Locustellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Marsh Grassbird 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 Marsh Grassbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Marsh Grassbird (Helopsaltes pryeri) belongs to the Locustellidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL ne Mongolia to Primorskiy (far se Russia), ne, e China and Honshu (c Japan).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.2 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Marsh Grassbird?
The Marsh Grassbird is a very small bird that weighs around 14.2 g.
Where does the Marsh Grassbird live?
The Marsh Grassbird is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL ne Mongolia to Primorskiy (far se Russia), ne, e China and Honshu (c Japan), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Marsh Grassbird belong to?
The Marsh Grassbird (Helopsaltes pryeri) belongs to the Locustellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Marsh Grassbird eat?
The Marsh Grassbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Marsh Grassbird migrate?
The Marsh Grassbird is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Marsh Grassbird 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 Marsh Grassbird make?
1 real field recording of the Marsh Grassbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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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