Lesser Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris (Hartlaub, 1864)

14–16 cmLength14 gWeight

The lesser swamp warbler or Cape reed warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Zambia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Lesser Swamp Warbler has been recorded at 252 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 16 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Strandfontein WTPSouth Africa1,780 records
  2. Marievale Bird SanctuarySouth Africa787 records
  3. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa651 records
More places
  1. Rondevlei NRSouth Africa630 records
  2. Lake Kivu – Tchegera IslandCongo - Kinshasa435 records
  3. PaardevleiSouth Africa350 records
  4. West Coast NP – Abrahamskraal hideSouth Africa349 records
  5. Intaka IslandSouth Africa344 records
  6. Nairobi NPKenya302 records
  7. Wakkerstroom Wetland NR – bridge/causewaySouth Africa292 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaZambiaCongo - KinshasaMozambiqueTanzaniaUgandaEthiopia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The lesser swamp warbler or Cape reed warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris) is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. It is sparsely present across sub-Saharan Africa, a common species of reedbeds in standing water.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Lesser Swamp Warbler?

The Lesser Swamp Warbler is about 14–16 cm long and weighs around 14 g.

Where does the Lesser Swamp Warbler live?

Its breeding range: Africa: eastern, southern. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Zambia.

When is the best time to see the Lesser Swamp Warbler?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Lesser Swamp Warbler endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Lesser Swamp Warbler as Least Concern.

What does the Lesser Swamp Warbler eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Lesser Swamp Warbler in?

It belongs to the family Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length
14–16 cm
Weight
14 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
65 mm
Tail
59 mm
Bill
18 mm
Tarsus
24 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: eastern, southern

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Reed Warblers & Allies Acrocephalidae
Genus
Acrocephalus

Other birds in the genus Acrocephalus

Basra Reed WarblerBasra Reed WarblerAcrocephalus griseldisCape Verde WarblerCape Verde WarblerAcrocephalus brevipennisGreater Swamp WarblerGreater Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus rufescensMadagascar Swamp WarblerMadagascar Swamp WarblerAcrocephalus newtoniSeychelles WarblerSeychelles WarblerAcrocephalus sechellensisRodrigues WarblerRodrigues WarblerAcrocephalus rodericanusGreat Reed WarblerGreat Reed WarblerAcrocephalus arundinaceusOriental Reed WarblerOriental Reed WarblerAcrocephalus orientalisClamorous Reed WarblerClamorous Reed WarblerAcrocephalus stentoreusAustralian Reed WarblerAustralian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus australisMillerbirdMillerbirdAcrocephalus familiarisSaipan Reed WarblerSaipan Reed WarblerAcrocephalus hiwae
Lesser Swamp Warbler

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Jonathan Breytenbach. ↗

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