Scientific Name: Acrocephalus orientalis
Malay Name: Cekup-Paya Besar Biasa
Chinese Name: 东方大苇莺
Range: Found from Siberia, northern China, Japan to Korea and winters to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, Southeast Asia and northern Australia
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 18-20 cm
Identification: Adult has prominent whitish supercilium, warm olive-brown upperparts and whitish underparts with warm buffish wash on flanks.
Similar looking species: Booted Warbler
Habitat: Reedbeds, scrubs and wet grasslands.
Behaviour/Ecology: Skulks in thick vegetation.
Local Status: Common migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Kranji Marsh, Sengkang Riverside Park, Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Chinese/Japanese Gardens, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Satay by the Bay.
Featured reports: Sep 2022
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 (Oriental Reed Warbler)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Acrocephalus orientalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22734033A104329496.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.). Oriental Reed Warbler. Retrieved on June 15, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/oriental-reed-warbler.