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Brown Bush Warbler Locustella luteoventris Scientific name definitions

Steve Madge
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2006

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

13–14·5 cm; c. 10 g. A medium-sized unmarked dull brown bush-warbler, lacking rufous or olive tones in plumage, and with rather slight bill. Has plain brown crown, ear-coverts, nape, breast and entire upperparts, including wings and tail; deep buff supercilium, malar region, flanks and undertail-coverts; throat and breast centre unspotted whitish, central belly similar; in worn plumage becomes whiter on underparts; iris dark brown; upper mandible blackish-brown, lower mandible fleshy-yellow with blackish-brown tip; legs flesh-brown to flesh-yellow. Distinguished from similar L. mandelli by unmarked brownish-buff undertail-coverts, slightly weaker bill with pale lower mandible. Sexes similar. Juvenile is darker brown above than adult, somewhat tinged with yellowish on underparts, may have some weak mottling on throat.

Systematics History

Previously placed in Bradypterus. Some confusion with L. mandelli until vocal differences indicated existence of two separate species in NE Indian Subcontinent; genetics demonstrate that they are not close relatives (1). Birds from W Myanmar (Arakan Yomas) described as race saturatus (preoccupied, replacement name ticehursti), and subsequent specimens from S China (Yunnan) and N Thailand claimed to be of this form; first two, however, now considered to be merely very dark juveniles, while Thai specimen is a dark L. mandelli, and this race no longer regarded as valid. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

NE India (from Darjeeling, in West Bengal, E to Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland), Bhutan, W & N Myanmar, S & SE China and N Vietnam; probably also NE Bangladesh. Non-breeding also S Myanmar and NW & NE Thailand (2).

Habitat

Breeds on slopes with forest clearings and at margins of cultivation where shrubby thickets and tangles of tall grasses, bamboos, brambles (Rubus) and willows (Salix) flourish, between c. 2000 m and 3300 m. Descends to lower elevations in winter.

Movement

Generally assumed to be mainly resident. Probably mainly an altitudinal migrant, as those from higher elevations move lower in winter, but probably not reaching plains; in SE China, however, does occur in non-breeding season at Hong Kong, although far outnumbered there by wintering L. mandelli.

Diet and Foraging

Little information. No data on food items, other than insects. Has general skulking behaviour of other members of genus.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Song, from low hidden perch, distinctive, a monotonous insect-like, staccato dry reeling delivered with rhythm of clicking sewing-machine, as e.g. “tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk tk” and so on. Call a hard “tak”; other calls attributed to this species are “tchak-tchak-tchak”, sharper and higher-pitched “tink-tink-tink” and harsh grating “tchrrrk-tchrrrk”, but these require confirmation because of possible confusion with L. mandelli.

Breeding

At least some of following details possibly refer to L. mandelli, with which present species has been long confused, especially in India. Season Apr–Jul, beginning at start of wet season, in Indian Himalayas. Nest built by both sexes, female doing most of work, a deep cup of woven grass leaves, sometimes domed, lined with finer stems, usually built within 1 m of ground, rarely higher, hidden in dense tuft of grass. Clutch 3–5 eggs (mean four); incubation by both sexes, mostly by female, period 12–13 days; no information on nestling period.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). True status very difficult to assess, as this species is rarely seen, and has in the past been totally confused with L. mandelli. It certainly seems to be the scarcer of the two, and is distinctly uncommon, in NE India. Possibly locally common in Myanmar; few records from N Vietnam, in winter and spring; the only claimed specimen from Thailand was shown to have been referable to L. mandelli. Said to be locally common in China, but much fieldwork required in order to confirm this. Recent sight records from NE Bangladesh in Feb probably refer to this species. Although type locality is given as “Nepal”, there are no confirmed records for that country, and specimens claimed to have been taken there are more likely to have come from Darjeeling area of India (close to E border of Nepal); research required.
Distribution of the Brown Bush Warbler - Range Map
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  • Year-round
  • Migration
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  • Non-Breeding
Distribution of the Brown Bush Warbler

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Madge, S. (2020). Brown Bush Warbler (Locustella luteoventris), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brbwar2.01
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