Taiwan bush warbler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taiwan bush warbler |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Locustella
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| Species: |
alishanensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Bradypterus alishanensis Rasmussen, Round, Dickinson & Rozendaal, 2000 |
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The Taiwan bush warbler (Locustella alishanensis) is a small bird that lives only in Taiwan. It's a type of Old World warbler, known for living in thick bushes and grasslands high up in the mountains, usually between 1,200 and 3,000 meters (about 4,000 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. This bird was first noticed in 1917, but scientists officially named it a new species in 2000. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says it's a "least-concern" species, which means it's not currently in danger of disappearing.
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Discovering the Taiwan Bush Warbler
This special bush warbler was first seen in the Alishan area of Taiwan in 1917. For a long time, people thought it was just a group of another bird species. But in the late 1980s, scientists noticed something very different about it: its song. The song was unique and unlike any other related birds.
In 2000, a group of scientists, including Pamela C. Rasmussen, officially described it as its own species. They named it Bradypterus alishanensis because of its special song and how it looked. Later, it was moved to a different group of birds called Locustella. A study in 2015 showed that this bird is closely related to the russet bush warbler.
What Does It Look Like?
The Taiwan bush warbler is about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long and weighs around 10 grams (0.35 ounces). Both male and female birds look very similar.
Its head is a dull reddish-brown color. It has light, pale buff rings around its eyes and a faint pale stripe above its eyes. The top parts of its body, from its back to its wings and tail, are a dull reddish-brown.
Its chin and throat are white, and its lower throat often has small spots. The upper part of its chest is grayish-brown, while its lower chest and belly are white. The feathers under its tail are dark reddish-brown with warm-colored tips.
The bird's beak is black, but in winter, the lower part of the beak can sometimes be pale. Its feet are pale pink, and its eyes are reddish-brown. Young birds, called juveniles, have a brownish chest and do not have spots.
Where Does It Live?
This bird is found only in Taiwan. It makes its home in the mountains, usually at heights between 1,200 and 3,000 meters (about 4,000 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, it can be found a bit lower, even below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet).
The Taiwan bush warbler does not fly to other countries for winter. However, when winter comes, it might move to lower parts of the mountains where it's warmer. It likes to live in forests with lots of thick bushes, grasses, or ferns. It can also be found in grassy areas and bamboo patches near the tree line (where trees stop growing). This bird can even live in places where humans have changed the habitat a bit.
Behavior and Life Cycle
The Taiwan bush warbler acts a lot like the russet bush warbler. It mostly sings in the morning and evening, starting in late March. Sometimes, its song can even be heard in winter.
Its song is a repeated sound: one steady whistle followed by three or four quick clicks. This whole sequence is usually repeated more than ten times, and it ends with the whistle. This is different from the songs of other similar birds. For example, the russet bush warbler has a more "nasal" or "metallic" song, and the brown bush warbler has a short, sharp song.
Besides its song, it makes other sounds too. These include a scratchy ksh ksh ksh, a sharp tick, and a stip.
The Taiwan bush warbler usually breeds in May and June, but sometimes as late as August. It builds its nest in the grass. Each time it lays eggs, it usually has two. Scientists have found insects in the stomachs of these birds, which means they eat insects.
Conservation Status
This bird is considered to be quite common in Taiwan. It is not seen as a threatened species. Because of this, the IUCN has listed it as a least-concern species. This means it is not currently in danger of extinction.
