Tahiti reed-warbler  (Acrocephalus caffer)

Description

This large, slender warbler is unusual in having two different colour forms, or morphs. The most common morph has pale primrose-yellow plumage, with a mottled brownish-olive crown and upperparts. It has a distinctive dark stripe on the head that goes through the eye, and greenish-slate legs. The rarer dark morph is entirely dark olive-brown. Both forms have a very long bill and tail, and whilst males and females are similar, juveniles are darker than adults. This warbler sings a string of lively and varied whistling notes, which it repeats to form a characteristic song (3). When alarmed it has a harsh chrr call (2) (4).

left