Cape Verde warbler

Description

This is a medium-sized warbler, larger than the Eurasian reed warbler. It resembles that bird in appearance, grey-brown above, greyish-white below, with no obvious markings. The geographical isolation of the bird on the Cape Verde Islands prevents confusion with other similar species. The song is a distinctive liquid bubbling, like that of a bulbul.

Distribution and habitat

left|thumb|200px|The Cape Verde warbler (Acrocephalus brevipennis) was featured in a 1000 CVE note circulated from 1992 to 2005. At one time it was thought that the Cape Verde warbler was restricted to the island of Santiago. After a specimen was found in a Lisbon museum, a survey was made on São Nicolau island in 1998 and some individuals were found there. In 2004 a further population was discovered on Fogo island and further survey found it was widespread across the north of the island up to altitudes of about 1,300 m. On Santiago it can be found across the whole island, including in Barragem de Poilão, S. Jorge, Serra Malagueta, Rui Vaz and Tarrafal. Although previously thought to be mainly restricted to woodland and scrub, it is now reported from a wider range of habitats including well-vegetated valleys, reedbeds, cultivated land and around water sources such as dams.

Status

The population trend of the Cape Verde warbler is thought to be declining, probably because of habitat destruction and the droughts that have beset the islands. With its restricted range and relatively small population, this bird has been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a vulnerable species.

References

References

1. BirdLife International. (2017). "''Acrocephalus brevipennis''".
2. "chincherote". Infopedia.
3. Teodoro, Melissa. "Dancing voices".
4. "Cape Verde Swamp-warbler (''Acrocephalus brevipennis'') - BirdLife species factsheet". BirdLife International.
5. (1 April 2017). "Genetic diversity and divergence in the endangered Cape Verde warbler ''Acrocephalus brevipennis''". Conservation Genetics.
6. (2004). "Status of the Cape Verde Cane Warbler ''Acrocephalus brevipennis'' on São Nicolau, with notes on song, breeding behaviour and threats". Malimbus.
7. Hazevoet, C. J.. (1999). "Rediscovery of the Cape Verde Cane Warbler ''Acrocephalus brevipennis'' on São Nicolau in February 1998". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club.
8. Hering, J.. (2005). "Discovery of Cape Verde Warbler ''Acrocephalus brevipennis'' on Fogo, Cape Verde Islands". Bulletin of the African Bird Club.
9. Garcia-del-Rey, E.. (2016). "Birds of the Cape Verde Islands". Sociedad Ornitologica Canaria.
10. Hazevoet, C. J.. (1995). "The birds of the Cape Verde islands: an annotated checklist". British Ornithologists' Union.