Old World Warblers (Sylviidae)

Australian Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus australis) - HBW 11, p. 627

French: Rousserolle d’Australie German: Australrohrsänger Spanish: Carricero Australiano
Other common names: Australian Great Reed-warbler, Long-billed Reed-warbler

Taxonomy: Calamoherpe australis Gould, 1838, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
According to mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphology, this species is part of a monophyletic clade together with A. arundinaceus, A. orientalis, A. stentoreus and A. vaughani; probably other Pacific species also belong to this clade, but genetic data lacking. Has been considered a race of A. stentoreus, but molecular-genetic analysis supports treatment as separate species; populations from Indonesia to Solomons, currently placed in A. stentoreus, might instead belong in present species. Three subspecies currently recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • carterae Mathews, 1912 - NW Australia.
  • gouldi A. J. C. Dubois, 1901 - SW Australia.
  • australis (Gould, 1838) - E & SE Australia, including Tasmania.