Sakhalin Grasshopper Warbler

Helopsaltes amnicola

库页岛蝗莺

IUCN: Least Concern Found in China

Introduction

The Sakhalin Grasshopper Warbler (Helopsaltes amnicola) is a small passerine bird in the family Locustellidae, formerly classified within the "Old World warbler" assemblage. It breeds on Sakhalin, the southern Kuril Islands, and Hokkaido. This species inhabits lowland and coastal regions, nesting in forests or thickets. Its song is notably loud and distinctive, differing from the insect-like reeling of European Locustella species.

Description

The adult has an unstreaked olive-brown back, uniformly grey breast, and buff underparts. The undertail coverts are unmottled and dull orange in color.

Identification

The song is a short phrase that is loud and distinctive. It does not resemble the insect-like reeling of European Locustella species. The song is more musical compared to Pallas's grasshopper warbler.

Distribution & Habitat

This species breeds on Sakhalin, the southern Kuril Islands, and Hokkaido. It is found in lowland and coastal regions, nesting in forests or thickets.

Behavior & Ecology

The species breeds in lowland and coastal forests or thickets. Its vocalization is a short, loud, and distinctive song phrase that differs from the insect-like reeling of European Locustella species and is more musical than that of Pallas's grasshopper warbler.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

Order
Passeriformes
Family
Locustellidae
Genus
Helopsaltes
eBird Code
sakwar1

Distribution

breeds Sakhalin, southern Kuril Islands, and Hokkaido; winters in Philippines

Vocalizations

Rajan Rao · CC_BY_4_0
Михаил Голомысов · CC_BY_4_0
Jono · CC_BY_4_0
Mikhail Nevsky · CC_BY_4_0
Михаил Голомысов · CC_BY_4_0

Data Sources

Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.

Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.