Bristled Grassbird

The Bristled Grassbird, or Schoenicola striatus, is a large, brownish warbler with a babbler-like appearance. It is characterized by broad dark streaks on the crown and back, a graduated tail with white-tipped feathers, and a strong bill. A distinctive feature is the vertical row of five stiff rictal bristles on a bare patch of skin in front of the eyes, which are thought to protect the eyes as the bird moves through dense grass.

Identification Tips

Look for the buff supercilium and pale, unmarked underside of this bird. The tail feathers have a dark rachis and dark ribs. The bill is black with the lower mandible tipped bluish grey. The tarsus is brown. Both sexes share similar plumage, and some individuals may exhibit a necklaced appearance due to dark-tipped breast feathers.

Habitat

The Bristled Grassbird is found in tall grass-covered marshlands, preferring dense and tall grasslands, often in marshy areas.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with a distribution range mainly in the northern part of the region. It has been recorded in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

Behaviour

Bristled Grassbirds are elusive, often seen briefly at the top of a grass clump before diving back into cover. They forage for insects within the grass clumps. Males perform a display flight, rising above the grass and zig-zagging before parachuting down. The breeding season spans from May to September, with nests constructed as balls of grass with a top opening, placed near the base of grass clumps. The female is thought to incubate the usual clutch of four to five white eggs with purplish red speckles alone.

Conservation status

The Bristled Grassbird is classified as Vulnerable due to the destruction of its grassland and marshland habitats. The species may be migratory, moving south and east in the Indian peninsula during winter and returning to their breeding grounds in the northern plains south of the Himalayas.