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  1. Species
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  3. Acrocephalidae
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  5. Acrocephalus
  6. ›
  7. Australian Reed Warbler
Australian Reed Warbler
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Australian Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus australis(Gould, 1838)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
PASSERIFORMES
Family
Acrocephalidae
Genus
Acrocephalus

At a glance

The Australian Reed Warbler is a small bird, about 15–18 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
15–18 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Australian Reed Warbler look like?

The Australian Reed Warbler is a small bird, about 15–18 cm long and weighing 15–25 g.

The Australian reed warbler is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus and is the only Acrocephalus species native to Australia. It has also been observed in Papua New Guinea and nearby islands. The name Acrocephalus refers to the peaked crown found on reed warblers in this genus and can be translated to mean "topmost head" in Greek. The species name australis is translated to mean "southern" in Latin, and refers to the species range, Australia. In its western range the Australian reed warbler is also known as "Koordjikotji" in the local Aboriginal language of Perth and its surrounds.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
15–18 cm
Weight
15.1–25.3 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Australian Reed Warbler?

The Australian Reed Warbler is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

graeme lunt · Burrumbeet VIC 3352, Australia

0s

Call

graeme lunt · Canadian VIC 3350, Australia

0s

Call

graeme lunt · Burrumbeet VIC 3352, Australia

0s

Call

graeme lunt · Canadian VIC 3350, Australia

0s

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Australian Reed Warbler eat?

The Australian Reed Warbler feeds on terrestrial invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Australian Reed Warbler live in Australia?

The Australian Reed Warbler is native to Australia, recorded across 78 of Australia’s bioregions.

Breeding range
New Guinea region, Australia, east Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.