A fairly plain, medium-sized warbler with warm brown upperparts, faint pale eye-rings forming narrow “spectacles,” and buff-toned underparts. It can be tricky to tell apart from other reed warblers. Most populations breed in reed or sedge beds, whether pure stands or mixed with bushes, and may range into nearby scrub and thickets. The form known as “Mangrove” Reed Warbler is resident in mangroves along the Red Sea. Outside the breeding season, migrants can turn up in many habitats, from marshes and mangroves to acacia scrub and cultivated areas. It is more often heard than seen: its long song resembles that of a Sedge Warbler but is smoother, more rhythmic, and lacks harsh, erratic phrases. Typical calls include a soft “chuk” and a rattling “chrrt.”

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