General

Middendorf's Grasshopper Warbler: Medium-sized warbler with rust-brown upperparts, dark brown rump, and white underparts with brown wash on lower breast and sides. Throat and eye brows are white. Tail is short and white-tipped. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler: This species is endemic to Asia. Individuals stray west and breed in the western Aleutian Islands and other islands in the Bering Sea and off the western coast of Alaska. These birds prefer dense vegetation and they prefer to remain concealed in thick grass and shrubs.

Breeding and Nesting

Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler: Five to six black streaked, pink eggs are laid in a nest made of dead leaves, plant stems, and dried grass, lined with plant fiber and fine materials, and set in the grass or reeds on the ground. Incubation ranges from 13 to 15 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler: Eats insects and occasionally takes spiders, small mollusks, and berries; forages in dense grass and bushes, staying on the ground or well inside vegetation.

Vocalization

Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler: Song is a thin, insect-like, grating "veechee-veechee-veechee"; often vocalizes during short flights.

Similar Species

Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler: Lanceolated Warbler is smaller, streaked overall, and lacks white-tipped tail.