Scientific Name: Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
Malay Name: Cekup-Paya Kecil Biasa
Chinese Name: 黑眉苇莺
Range: Found from Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, northern Japan to North Korea and winters to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Sumatra
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 13.5-14 cm
Identification: Adult has long broad pale buff supercilium bordered above by prominent black lateral crown-stripe, warm olive-brown upperparts with slightly more rufescent rump and whitish underparts with warm buff breast-sides and flanks.
Similar looking species: Booted Warbler
Habitat: Reedbed and grassland near water.
Behaviour/Ecology: Skulks in reedbeeds and tall dense waterside vegetation.
Local Status: Uncommon migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2017)
Location: Kranji Marsh, Sengkang Riverside Park, Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Jurong Eco Garden and Chinese/Japanese Gardens.
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Black-browed Reed Warbler)
References:
BirdLife International. (2017). Acrocephalus bistrigiceps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22714709A111077307.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Black-browed Reed Warbler. Retrieved on July 7, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/black-browed-reed-warbler.