General
Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin reflects Mandarin pronunciation; for some dialect names, it is no more than a polite fiction. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.
The Acrocephalidae are a result of the break-up of the old Sylviidae (Old World warblers) assemblage. (Others include the Locustellidae, Phylloscipidae, and Scotocercidae, as well as part of the Sylviidae.)
Although species names in the family are strictly ornithological in nature, the highly conspicuous East Asian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) is associated with a number of popular names. These include 苇 'reed zha' or 苇串儿 'go-through reed' in the north, and 芦罩 'reed cover' in the south.
The earliest ornithological name proposed for the genus Acrocephalus, suggested in the 1927 work Chinese Birds (35), was 苇 'reed zhá', based on popular northern naming at the time. However, later authorties instead chose 苇莺 'reed warbler' in order to maintain uniform naming among the Sylviidae.
The traditional meaning of 莺 in Chinese is oriole, and this is still maintained in non-ornithological contexts. The ornithological usage referring to the warblers originated in Japan. Since the Black-naped Oriole is confined to Japan's remote western islands, the native Japanese Bush Warbler or uguisu (Horornis diphone) came to be culturally identifed with the oriole thanks to its beautiful song, giving rise to the use of 鶯 to write its name (see 'Of Orioles and Warblers'). In modern times the uguisu gave its name to the Sylviidae, or 鶯科 uguisu-ka, and this was borrowed into Chinese in the 1920s as a written form and given to the sylviid warblers in general.
As a result, all members of the current Acrocephalidae bear the name 莺 as the ornithological equivalent of English 'warbler'. (Note that 莺 is not likely to be used on its own, especially in speech, as it is homophonous with 'eagle' or 鹰 .) There are only two sets of names within the family:
The 'reed warblers' (Acrocephalus and Arundinax) are known in Chinese as 苇莺 'reed-warbler'.
The genus Iduna (some previously belonging to Hippolais) is known as 篱莺 'wicker-warbler'.
Species names
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
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Arundinax | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Arundinax aedon Phragmaticola aedon Acrocephalus aedon |
Thick-billed warbler Thick-billed reed warbler |
厚嘴苇莺 (厚嘴葦鶯) 'thick-billed reed-warbler' |
芦莺 (蘆鶯) 'reed-warbler' (6 - now conflicts with A. scirpaceus) (31) 大嘴莺 (大嘴鶯) 'large-billed warbler' (31) 树子 (樹子) 'tree zhazi' (northern) (35) |
ハシブトオオヨシキリ (嘴太大葦切り) hashi-buto ō yoshi-kiri 'thick-billed large reed-cutter' |
큰부리개개비 keun-buri-gaegaebi 'large-billed reedwarbler' |
Acrocephalus aedon: Chim Chích mỏ rộng 'broad-billed warbler (bird)' (12, 13) |
Acrocephalus aedon: Банхар охилбялзуухай ᠪᠠᠩᠬᠠᠷ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ baŋkhar okhil-byalzuukhai 'thick okhil finch' Inner M: Acrocephalus aedon: Банхар охил бялзуухай ᠪᠠᠩᠬᠠᠷ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ baŋkhar okhil-byalzuukhai 'thick okhil finch' (33) |
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Iduna | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Iduna caligata Hippolais caligata |
Booted warbler | 靴篱莺 (靴籬鶯) 'boot wicker-warbler' |
ヒメウタムシクイ (姫歌虫喰) hime uta mushi-kui 'princess song insect-eater' ヒメウタイムシクイ (姫歌い虫喰) hime utai mushi-kui 'princess singing insect-eater' |
Hippolais caligata: Халиу заараг ᠬᠠᠯᠢᠭᠣ ᠵᠠᠭᠠᠷᠭᠠ khaliu zaarag 'brown zaarag' Inner M: Hippolais caligata: Халиун заараг ᠬᠠᠯᠢᠭᠣᠨ ᠵᠠᠭᠠᠷᠭᠠ khaliuŋ zaarag 'brown zaarag' (33) |
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Iduna rama Hippolais rama |
Sykes's warbler | 赛氏篱莺 (賽氏籬鶯) 'Mr Sai's wicker-warbler' (2, 3, 36) |
アラビアウタムシクイ (アラビア歌虫喰) arabia uta mushi-kui 'Arabian song insect-eater' Other: アラビアウタイムシクイ (アラビア歌い虫喰) arabia utai mushi-kui 'Arabian singing insect-eater' |
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Iduna pallida Hippolais pallida |
Olivaceous warbler | 草绿篱莺 (草綠籬鶯) 'grass green wicker-warbler' |
ハイイロウタムシクイ (灰色歌虫喰) hai-iro uta mushi-kui 'grey song insect-eater' Other: ハイイロウタイムシクイ (灰色歌い虫喰) hai-iro utai mushi-kui 'grey singing insect-eater' |
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Acrocephalus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Acrocephalus bistrigiceps |
Black-browed reed warbler Black-browed reed-warbler Schrenk's reed warbler Von Schrenk's reed warbler |
黑眉苇莺 (黑眉葦鶯) 'black-eyebrowed reed-warbler' |
(双眉苇莺) 雙眉葦鶯 'double-eyebrowed reed-warbler' |
小儿 (小兒) 'small zhar' (northern) (35) |
コヨシキリ (小葦切り) ko yoshi-kiri 'small reed-cutter' |
쇠쇠개개비 soe-soe-gaegaebi 'small small reedwarbler' |
Chim Chích đầu nhọn mày đen 'black-eyebrowed sharp-headed warbler (bird)' (12) |
Хархөмсөг охилбялзуухай ᠬᠠᠷᠠ ᠬᠦᠮᠦᠰᠭᠡᠲᠦ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ khar-khömsög okhil-byalzuukhai 'black-eyebrowed okhil finch' Inner M: Хар хөмсөгт хурагч заржхин ᠬᠠᠷᠠ ᠬᠦᠮᠦᠰᠭᠡᠲᠦ ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ khar khömsömgt khuragch zarjkhiŋ 'black-eyebrowed gathering warbler' (31, 33) |
Acrocephalus sorghophilus |
Streaked reed warbler Streaked reed-warbler Speckled reed warbler |
细纹苇莺 (細紋葦鶯) 'fine-patterned reed-warbler' |
(细纹苇莺) 細紋葦鶯 'fine-patterned reed-warbler' |
セスジコヨシキリ (背条小葦切り) se-suji ko yoshi-kiri 'back line small reed-cutter' |
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Acrocephalus schoenobaenus |
Sedge warbler | 水蒲苇莺 (水蒲葦鶯) 'water-sedge reed-warbler' (1, 3, 4, 5, 36) 蒲苇莺 (蒲葦鶯) 'pampas grass-warbler' (2) |
スゲヨシキリ (菅葦切り) suge yoshi-kiri 'sedge reed-cutter' |
Inner M: Зэгсэн хурагч заржхин ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠰᠦᠨ ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ zegseŋ khuragch zarjkhiŋ 'reed gathering warbler' (33) Other M: Зэгсний охил бялзуухай ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠰᠦᠨ ᠦ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ zegsni okhil byalzuukhai 'reed okhil finch' |
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Acrocephalus dumetorum |
Blyth's reed warbler Blyth's reed-warbler |
布氏苇莺 (布氏葦鶯) 'Mr Bu's reed-warbler' (2, 3, 36) 布莱氏苇莺 (布萊氏葦鶯) 'Mr Bulai's reed-warbler' (5) |
ヤチヨシキリ (八千葦切り) yachi yoshi-kiri 'yachi reed-cutter' (Yachi is found in place names. Although usually written 八千 meaning 'eight thousand' = 'many', it is associated with 'swamp, marshland'.) |
Бутны охилбялзуухай ᠪᠣᠲᠠᠨ ᠦ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ butni okhil-byalzuukhai 'bush okhil finch' |
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Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
Common Reed Warbler Eurasian Reed-warbler Reed warbler Asian reed warbler |
芦苇莺 (蘆葦鶯) 'reed-warbler' (1, 3, 5, 36) 芦莺 (蘆鶯) 'reed-warbler' (2, 4) |
ヨーロッパヨシキリ (ヨーロッパ葦切り) yōroppa yoshi-kiri 'European reed-cutter' |
Inner M: Зэгсэн заржхин ᠵᠡᠭᠡᠰᠦᠨ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ zegseŋ zarjkhiŋ 'reed warbler' (33) |
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Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Acrocephalus agricola |
Paddyfield warbler | 稻田苇莺 (稻田葦鶯) 'paddy-field reed-warbler' |
(稻田苇莺) 稻田葦鶯 'paddy-field reed-warbler' |
イナダヨシキリ (稲田葦切り) inada yoshi-kiri 'paddy field reed-cutter' |
북방쇠개개비 bukbang-soe-gaegaebi 'northern small reedwarbler' or 서양쇠개개비 seoyang-soe-gaegaebi 'western small reedwarbler' |
Хээрийн охилбялзуухай ᠬᠡᠭᠡᠷᠡ ᠵᠢᠨ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ kheeriŋ okhil-byalzuukhai 'wild okhil finch' |
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Acrocephalus concinens |
Blunt-winged warbler Blunt-winged paddy-field warbler |
钝翅苇莺 (鈍翅葦鶯) 'blunt-winged reed-warbler' or 钝翅稻田苇莺 (鈍翅稻田葦鶯) 'blunt-winged paddy-field reed-warbler' (alt in 1, 3, 5) |
コバネヨシキリ (小羽葦切り) ko-bane yoshi-kiri 'small-winged reed-cutter' |
Chim Chích cánh cụt 'short-winged warbler (bird)' (12, 13) |
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Acrocephalus tangorum |
Manchurian Reed warbler Manchurian Paddyfield Warbler |
远东苇莺 (遠東葦鶯) 'far eastern reed-warbler' (2, 3, 4, 36) |
东北稻田苇莺 (東北稻田葦鶯) 'northeastern (=Manchurian) paddy-field reed-warbler' 满洲苇莺 (滿洲葦鶯) 'Manchurian reed-warbler' |
コクリュウコウイナダヨシキリ (黒龍江稲田葦切り) kokuryū-kō inada yoshi-kiri 'Amur river paddy field reed-cutter' |
우수리개개비 usuri-gaegaebi 'Ussuri reedwarbler' |
Chim Chích sậy Mãn Châu 'Manchu reed-warbler (bird)' (Wikipedia) Taxonomy |
Inner M: Дорнод хурагч заржхин ᠳᠣᠷᠣᠨᠠᠳᠣ ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ dornod khuragch zarjkhiŋ 'eastern gathering warbler' (33) |
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Acrocephalus arundinaceus |
Great reed warbler Great reed-warbler |
大苇莺 (大葦鶯) 'large reed-warbler' |
ニシオオヨシキリ (西大葦切り) nishi ō yoshi-kiri 'Western large reed-cutter' |
Chim Chích lớn 'large warbler (bird)' (34) |
Их охилбялзуухай ᠶᠡᠬᠡ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ ikh okhil-byalzuukhai 'large okhil finch' Inner M: Том хурагч заржхин ᠲᠣᠮ ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ tom khuragch zarjkhiŋ 'large gathering warbler' (31, 33) IM also: Хулсч заржхин ᠬᠣᠯᠣᠰᠣᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ khulsch zarjkhiŋ 'reed warbler' (alt in 31) or Хурагч бор ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ khuragch bor 'gathering bor' (alt in 31) (Former Inner Mongolian ames shared with Acrocephalus orientalis) |
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Acrocephalus orientalis |
East Asian reed warbler East Asian reed-warbler East Asian great reed warbler | 东方大苇莺 (東方葦鶯) 'eastern large reed-warbler' |
(东方大苇莺) 東方大葦鶯 'eastern large reed-warbler' |
大苇莺 (大葦鶯) 'large reed-warbler' (6, 7) 芦罩 (蘆罩) 'reed cover' (southern) (35) 苇串儿 (葦串兒) 'go-through reed' (northern) (35) 苇 (葦) 'reed zha' (northern) (35) 大苇子 (大葦子) 'large reed zhazi' 大扎儿 (大葦兒) 'large reed zhar' 芦稿鸟 (蘆稿鳥) 'reed stalk bird' 芦蝈蝈 (蘆蟈蟈) 'reed katydid' 剖苇鸟 (剖葦鳥) 'split reed bird' 剖苇 (剖葦) 'split reed' |
オオヨシキリ (大葦切り) ō yoshi-kiri 'large reed-cutter' |
개개비 gaegaebi 'reedwarbler' |
Chim Chích đầu nhọn Phương đông 'eastern sharp-headed warbler (bird)' (12) |
Дорнын охилбялзуухай ᠳᠣᠷᠣᠨᠠ ᠵᠢᠨ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ dorniŋ okhil-byalzuukhai 'eastern okhil finch' Inner M: Дорнод том хурагч заржхин ᠳᠣᠷᠣᠨᠠᠳᠣ ᠲᠣᠮ ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ dornod tom khuragch zarjkhiŋ 'eastern large gathering warbler' (33) IM also: Том хурагч заржхин ᠲᠣᠮ ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ tom khuragch zarjkhiŋ 'large gathering warbler' (31) or Хулсч заржхин ᠬᠣᠯᠣᠰᠣᠴᠢ ᠵᠠᠷᠵᠢᠬᠢᠨ khulsch zarjkhiŋ 'reed warbler' (alt in 31) or Хурагч бор ᠬᠣᠷᠠᠭᠴᠢ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ khuragch bor 'gathering bor' (alt in 31) (Species since split. Inner Mongolian names shared with Acrocephalus arindunicaeus) |
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Acrocephalus stentoreus |
Clamorous reed warbler Clamorous reed-warbler |
噪大苇莺 (噪大葦鶯) 'noisy large reed-warbler' (1, 3, 5, 36) 噪苇莺 (噪葦鶯) 'noisy reed-warbler' (2, 4) |
南大苇莺 (南大葦鶯) 'southern large reed-warbler' (6) |
チュウヨシキリ (中葦切り) chū yoshi-kiri 'medium reed-cutter' |
Chim Chích đầu nhọn 'sharp-headed warbler (bird)' (12) |
Өмнөдийн охилбялзуухай ᠡᠮᠦᠨᠡᠳᠦ ᠵᠢᠨ ᠣᠬᠢᠯ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ ömnödiŋ okhil-byalzuukhai 'southern okhil finch' |
セッカ sekka is used in Japanese for several small warbling birds in the Cisticolidae, Locustellidae, and Phylloscopidae. The etymology is unknown. It is written with the ateji 雪加 (literally 'snow-add') or 雪下 (literally 'snow-below'), characters assigned on the basis of sound only with little or no relation to etymology or meaning.
Бор bor as an adjective means either 'grey, brown, dun', or 'stubborn'. It is used in some bird names as a noun, including names for the nightjars, reed warblers, Reed Parrotbill, and leiothrix. The common thread is unclear, and the meaning likely differs according to the bird, with nightjars possibly being regarded as 'stubborn', and others as being 'small brownish birds'.
The name Сүүллэг süülleg means 'large-tailed', related to the word for 'tail' сүүл süül. The name is clearly based on the Chinese name. However, the spelling of the bird name is differentiated from that for 'large-tailed' through doubling of the 'l'.
Харсуун kharsuuŋ or харсун kharsuŋ is found in the names of birds at the Accipitridae, Strigidae, and Sylviidae. The dictionary meaning is 'coarse', 'crude' (e.g. as used of foodstuffs), but in bird naming it appears to have the meaning 'hawk'.
The name гуждахай gujdakhai is found in our source of 'ornithological names' but is not found in any dictionary. The pronunciation is therefore moot. Juding from the script it should be read gujdakhai, but other pronunciations are possible.
中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全(修订版) 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编:郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册(中文版)约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯,合作者:荷芬奇,翻译:卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编:郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称(拉丁文、汉文、英文对照)第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
中国鸟类分布名录 第二版 郑作新 科学出版社 北京 1976年
(Checklist of the Classification of Birds of China 2nd edition by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 1976)
香港及華南鳥類(第六版)(翻譯成中文及重新修訂) 尹璉、費嘉倫、林超英 香港性徵特區政府新聞處政府印務局 1994年
Birds of Hong Kong and South China (6th edition, translated into Chinese and newly revised) by Clive Viney, Karen Phillipps, Lin Chaoying, Hong Kong Govt. Press 1994
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
汉蒙名词术语分类词典(自然科学部分) Mongolian (Cyrillic): Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь (байгалийн шинжлэх ухааны бүлэг) (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary, natural sciences part) by 《汉蒙名词术语分类词典》编纂委员会 Mongolian (Cyrillic): "Хятад Монгол нэр томъёоны зүйл хуваасан толь" найруулах комисс (Chinese-Mongolian classified terminological dictionary editorial committee), Inner Mongolian People's Press, Hohhot 1990
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
内蒙古动物志 (第四卷 鸟纲 雀形目) Fauna Inner Mongolia (Volume 4 Aves Passerines), 主编:旭日干 (Chief Editor: Xurigan), 内蒙古人大学版社 (Inner Mongolian University Press), Hohhot 2015
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009
Chinese Birds (A Tentative List of Chinese Birds) 中國鳥類(中國鳥類目錄試編) N. Gist Gee, Lacy I. Moffett, G. D. Wilder (祁天錫, 慕維德, 萬卓志), Peiping, 1927 (reprinted 1948)
中国观鸟年报-中国鸟类名录 1.1 (The CBR Checklist of Birds of China v1.1) 中国观鸟年报 (China Bird Review), 2010