Description:

Small and compact, rather short-tailed warbler with relatively short wings. Very distinctive Sylvia. In all plumages has sandy-brown upperparts, rufous rump and uppertail-coverts, and rufous central tail feathers. Iris, base to bill, and legs and feet are yellowish.

Distribution:

Rare passage migrant through central Gilgit-Baltistan, mainly in Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit and Diamer. Favors steppe-desert and semi-desert areas covered with low scrub and grasses, usually in sandy terrain, also on rocky hills and stony soils.

Behavior:

Forages mainly on ground or at low height; gleans items from scrub, grasses and low bushes, or picks them directly from ground and from among roots. Follows shrikes and wheatears to prey on insects disturbed by them. Apparently feeds mostly on small insects, also some seeds and berries. Invertebrate food includes adult and larval butterflies and moths, spiders, bugs, ants and beetles.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Asian Desert Warbler in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Asian Desert Warbler

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.