Hello, everyone! Today, let’s dive into some fascinating facts about the Oriental Reed Warbler, a bird that graces the reeds around rivers and lakes with its loud and distinctive “gyo-gyo-shi, gyo-gyo-shi” song during the summer in Japan.
The Oriental Reed Warbler is slightly larger than a sparrow, with males measuring 17-19 cm in length and females around 17 cm. It has an olive-brown back and a buff-white belly, with a prominent white eyebrow stripe above its eyes. It also features a dark stripe running through its face and sometimes sports a crest of raised feathers on its head, giving it a charming and endearing appearance.
These birds build cup-shaped nests using reed and sedge stalks and dry leaves. Interestingly, the Oriental Reed Warbler practices polygyny, meaning one male mates with multiple females. The male’s loud singing is a display meant to attract females and ward off other males.
A close relative, the Black-browed Reed Warbler, can often be found in the same reed beds. To distinguish between the two, you can look at the inside of their mouths when they sing: the Oriental Reed Warbler has a red mouth, while the Black-browed Reed Warbler’s is yellow. Remembering this difference can help you tell them apart.
During the breeding season, the Oriental Reed Warbler sings from high perches in the reeds, and its song, “gyo-gyo-shi, gyo-gyo-shi,” is lively and far-reaching. This distinctive call has even become a summer seasonal word in Japanese poetry and has been celebrated in many haiku. It’s said that Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s most famous haiku poets, wrote about it.
The presence of the Oriental Reed Warbler enriches the summer landscape, and its song reminds us of the changing seasons. Next time you visit a reed bed, try to listen for the “gyo-gyo-shi” call. Until next time!
