Birds Guide

Bush warblers are small insectivorous birds belonging to the genera Cettia and Bradypterus of the Old World warbler family Sylviidae. There are about 38 species in the genera, the most recently described being the Odedi (Cettia haddeni) from Bougainville.

These are mostly dull birds, unmarked brown above, with strong legs and feet and short broad wings. Many are similar in appearance. They are mostly southern Asian, although Cetti's Warbler has a more extensive range, across southern Europe. Southern species are usually resident, and northern are short-distance migrants.

These are quite terrestrial birds, which live in densely vegetated habitats like thick forest and reedbeds. The will walk away from disturbance rather than flush. The plumage similarities and skulking lifestyle makes these birds hard to see and identify.

Species in genus Cettia

• Manchurian Bush Warbler, Cettia canturians
  Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Cettia pallidipes
  Japanese Bush Warbler, Cettia diphone
  Philippine Bush Warbler, Cettia seebohmi
  Palau Bush Warbler, Cettia annae
  Shade Warbler, Cettia parens
  Odedi, Cettia haddeni
  Fiji Bush Warbler, Cettia ruficapilla
  Tanimbar Bush Warbler, Cettia carolinae
  Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Cettia fortipes
  Sunda Bush-Warbler, Cettia vulcania
  Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Cettia major
  Aberrant Bush Warbler, Cettia flavolivacea
  Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Cettia acanthizoides
  Gray-sided Bush Warbler, Cettia brunnifrons
  Cetti's Warbler, Cettia cetti

Species in genus Bradypterus

• Taiwan Bush Warbler, Bradypterus alishanensis
  African Bush Warbler, Bradypterus baboecala
  Ja River Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus grandis
  White-winged Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus carpalis
  Grauer's Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus graueri
  Bamboo Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus alfredi
  Knysna Scrub Warbler / Knysna Warbler, Bradypterus sylvaticus
  Cameroon Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus lopezi
  African Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus barratti
  Bangwa Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus bangwaensis
  Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Bradypterus cinnamomeus
  Victorin's Scrub Warbler, Bradypterus victorini *almost certainly not a true Bradypterus - see SASOL Birds of Southern Africa
  Spotted Bush Warbler, Bradypterus thoracicus
  Long-billed Bush Warbler, Bradypterus major
  Chinese Bush Warbler, Bradypterus tacsanowskius
  Russet Bush Warbler, Bradypterus seebohmi
  Brown Bush Warbler, Bradypterus luteoventris
  Taiwan Bush Warbler, Bradypterus alishanensis
  Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Bradypterus palliseri
  Friendly Bush Warbler, Bradypterus accentor
  Long-tailed Bush Warbler, Bradypterus caudatus
  Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler, Bradypterus castaneus