Important records of Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus Arundinaceus from Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary, District – Ahmedabad, Central Gujarat, India

Abstract: While the Great Reed Warbler is a well-known long-distance migrant that breeds across Europe and Asia, it's considered a very rare sight in India. This study changes that by documenting five separate sightings of this bird between 2013 and 2024 in the wetlands of central Gujarat, including the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. We describe the key physical details—like its rufous-colored head and longer wings—that help distinguish it from its common lookalike, the Clamorous Reed Warbler. These records are significant because they not only confirm the presence of two different subspecies but also officially extend the known wintering range of the Great Reed Warbler into a region where it had never been reported before. Our findings suggest this species may be a regular but overlooked winter visitor to Gujarat, filling an important gap in our understanding of its journey through South Asia. Classification: - Species authority: Linnaeus, 1758 Domain: Eukaryote Genus: Acrocephalus Family: Muscicapidae Sub-family: Sylvinae Kingdom: Animalia Class: Aves Phylum: Chordata Order: Passiformes Binomial name: A. A. arundinaceus