Old World Warblers (Sylviidae)

Oriental Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) - HBW 11, p. 625

French: Rousserolle d’Orient German: Chinarohrsänger Spanish: Carricero Oriental
Other common names: Eastern Great/Oriental Great Reed-warbler

Taxonomy: Salicaria turdina orientalis Temminck and Schlegel, 1847, Japan.
According to mitochondrial DNA sequences and morphology, this species is part of a monophyletic clade together with A. arundinaceus, A. stentoreus, A. australis and A. vaughani; probably other Pacific species also belong to this clade, but genetic data lacking. Often considered conspecific with A. arundinaceus; recent studies, however, support treatment as distinct species, and suggest also that it is more likely to have derived from A. stentoreus. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds C Mongolia and SE Russia (SW Transbaikalia E to lower R Amur) S to N & E China (E from E Xinjiang, S to Fujian), Korea, Sakhalin I and Japan; non-breeding mainly SE Asia to Greater Sundas, Philippines and Wallacea.