Acrocephalidae

Acrocephalidae (the marsh- and tree-warblers or acrocephalid warblers) is a family of oscine passerine birds, in the superfamily Sylvioidea.

The species in this family are usually rather large "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but also ranging far into Pacific, with some species in Africa. The genus limits are seriously in need of revision; either most species should be moved into Acrocephalus, or the latter should be split up. However there is presently insufficient knowledge as to how.

Genus Acrocephalus
Marsh-warblers. About 35 species; para- or polyphyletic.


 * Moustached Warbler, Acrocephalus melanopogon
 * Aquatic Warbler, Acrocephalus paludicola
 * Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
 * Streaked Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus sorghophilus
 * Black-browed Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
 * Paddyfield Warbler, Acrocephalus agricola
 * Manchurian Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus tangorum
 * Blunt-winged Warbler, Acrocephalus concinens
 * Eurasian Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
 * Caspian Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus (scirpaceus) fuscus
 * Mangrove Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus (scirpaceus) avicenniae
 * African Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus
 * Blyth's Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum
 * Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus palustris
 * Great Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus
 * Oriental Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis
 * Clamorous Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus stentoreus
 * Large-billed Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus orinus
 * Basra Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus griseldis
 * Australian Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus australis
 * Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia
 * Aguiguan Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia nijoi - doubtfully distinct; extinct (c.1997)
 * Astrolabe Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia astrolabii - extinct (mid-19th century?)
 * Pagan Nightingale Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus luscinia yamashinae - doubtfully distinct; extinct (1970s)
 * Caroline Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus syrinx
 * Nauru Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus rehsei
 * Millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris
 * Laysan Millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris - extinct (late 1910s)
 * Christmas Island Warbler, Acrocephalus aequinoctialis
 * Tahiti Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus caffer
 * Huahine Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus caffer garretti - extinct (19th century?)
 * Raiatea Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus caffer musae - extinct (19th century?)
 * Tuamotu Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus atyphus
 * Rimatara Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus rimatarae
 * Pitcairn Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus vaughani
 * Henderson Island Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus taiti
 * Marquesan Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus mendanae
 * Cook Islands Reed-warbler, Acrocephalus kerearako
 * Greater Swamp-warbler, Acrocephalus rufescens
 * Cape Verde Swamp-warbler, Acrocephalus brevipennis
 * Lesser Swamp-warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris
 * Madagascar Swamp-warbler, Acrocephalus newtoni
 * Thick-billed Warbler, Acrocephalus aedon
 * Rodrigues Brush-warbler, Acrocephalus rodericanus
 * Seychelles Warbler, Acrocephalus sechellensis

Genus Hippolais
Tree-warblers. 8 species; para- or polyphyletic.

(Sub)Genus Iduna


 * Booted Warbler, Hippolais caligata
 * Sykes' Warbler, Hippolais rama
 * Eastern Olivaceous Warbler,  Hippolais pallida
 * Western Olivaceous Warbler,  Hippolais opaca

(Sub)Genus Hippolais


 * Upcher's Warbler, Hippolais languida
 * Olive-tree Warbler, Hippolais olivetorum
 * Melodious Warbler, Hippolais polyglotta
 * Icterine Warbler, Hippolais icterina

Genus Chloropeta
Yellow warblers. 3 species.


 * Yellow Flycatcher-warbler, Chloropeta natalensis
 * Mountain Flycatcher-warbler, Chloropeta similis
 * Papyrus Flycatcher-warbler, Chloropeta gracilirostris

Genus Nesillas
Brush warblers. 4 living species, 1 recently extinct.
 * Aldabra Brush-warbler, Nesillas aldabrana (extinct: c.1984)
 * Anjouan Brush-warbler, Nesillas longicaudata
 * Madagascar Brush-warbler, Nesillas typica
 * Grand Comoro Brush-warbler, Nesillas brevicaudata
 * Moheli Brush-warbler, Nesillas mariae