Long-Billed Bush Warbler

The Long-Billed Bush Warbler (scientific name: Locustella major) is a medium-sized songbird that has been recently spotted in Ladakh’s Suru Valley after 46 years. This sighting is significant as it marks the first confirmed sighting of the species in India in nearly five decades.

Key Details:

• Scientific Name: Locustella major

• Distribution:

  • The species has a limited range in the mountainous regions of Central Asia.

  • It is found in parts of China, India, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

• Habitat:

  • The Long-Billed Bush Warbler prefers grassy slopes, areas dotted with bushes, weeds, and grass.

  • It can also be found in upland terraced cultivation and the edges of alpine meadows and forest clearings, typically at an altitude of 2400-3600 meters.

• Physical Features:

  • Size: It measures around 15–17 cm in length, making it a relatively medium-sized bird.

  • Plumage: The bird has a brownish-olive color with fine streaking on its back. The underparts are paler, often appearing whitish or buff.

  • Tail & Bill: It has a long tail and a long bill, which gives it its distinctive appearance.

• Behavior:

  • Like other bush warblers, it is typically very skulking and furtive, preferring to run rather than fly when threatened.

  • The bird emerges onto small bushes to sing, producing a dull clicking sound, which has been compared to a grasshopper’s sound.

• Sexual Dimorphism: There is no noticeable difference between the sexes, as both are alike in appearance.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: The Long-Billed Bush Warbler is classified as Near Threatened due to its limited range and specific habitat preferences, which make it vulnerable to changes in its environment.