Moorea reed warbler

Moorea reed warbler (Acrocephalus longirostris) is a species of songbird in the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage (Sylviidae), it is now in the newly recognized marsh warbler family Acrocephalidae. It was once considered a subspecies of the Tahiti reed warbler.

Moorea reed warbler
Painting by William Ellis
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Acrocephalidae
Genus:	Acrocephalus
Species:	A. longirostris
Binomial name
Acrocephalus longirostris (J.F. Gmelin, 1789)[2]
Synonyms
Turdus longirostris (protonym)

Distribution and habitat

It is endemic to Moorea in the Society Islands. It occurs in second-growth forest as well as Polynesian 'ohe thickets (and likely breeds exclusively in the latter) in river valleys and hillsides.

Description

It has two color morphs; a light morph that is pale yellow with mottled brownish above, and an olive-brown dark morph.

Conservation

It was last seen in 1987, and was previously feared to have gone extinct due to habitat destruction by hydroelectric power, road-building, and exploitation of bamboo, as well as the introduction of the invasive species such as the miconia tree, the common myna, and the feral cat. However, two unconfirmed sightings in the 21st century indicate that it may possibly survive in very low numbers.^[1] A 2018 study recommended downlisting the species from Critically Endangered or possibly extinct to just Critically Endangered.^[3]