Broad Tailed Grass Warbler

IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU)

The Broad-tailed Grass Warbler is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to its small, fragmented population and continued loss of native grassland habitat. Species under this category face a high risk of endangerment in the wild.

Habitat and Distribution

This species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, and is recorded from:

• Maharashtra
• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu

It inhabits a very specific ecological niche, primarily preferring:

• Dense tall grass and reed habitats
• Moist, marshy depressions on hilltops at 900–2,000 metres
• Hillsides with patches of scrub and bushes
• Edges of forests, lemon grass and date palm groves
• Occasional presence in dense service pine swarms

Physical Characteristics

This medium-sized, plain warbler exhibits distinctive features:

• Whitish underparts with a broad, rounded tail—a key identifying trait
• When breeding, shows a warm dark-fawn crown, brown back and tail
• A narrow pale supercilium extending just behind the eye
• Plumage becomes duller in colder or drier seasons, reflecting seasonal changes

Its inconspicuous colouring helps it blend seamlessly within the tall grasses it inhabits.

Behaviour and Ecology

The Broad-tailed Grass Warbler:

• Prefers dense grasslands near waterlogged or marshy zones, especially at higher elevations
• Is often seen moving quietly through vegetation, making it difficult to spot
• Uses tall grasses and reeds for nesting, foraging, and protection from predators

Its survival is strongly tied to the health and continuity of native shola grasslands.

Threats to Survival

The species faces multiple ecological pressures, primarily related to habitat loss:

• Replacement of native grasslands with exotic plantations, especially eucalyptus and wattle
• Mismanagement or neglect of shola grasslands, considered low-value habitats
• Alteration of the natural landscape for agriculture, forestry and development

As grasslands shrink and become fragmented, the warbler’s range and breeding sites are reduced, endangering long-term survival.

Conservation Measures

Although threatened, the Broad-tailed Grass Warbler benefits from presence in several protected areas, including:

• Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Eravikulam National Park
• Periyar Tiger Reserve
• Kalakkad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
• Neyyar and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuaries
• Silent Valley National Park

Protection of native grasslands and careful management of invasive species are essential to secure the future of this Western Ghats endemic bird.