There had been no confirmed field observations of Timor Bush Warbler since two specimens were collected on Mount Mutis,West timor,in 1932.
A paper published online In a bird journal(BCI) reports the redicovery of the Timor Bush Warbler In East Timor In 2009, promted by the discovery of a previusly unknown population of bush warbler on the Island of Alor,Indonesia,to the north. Timor Bush warbler was first recognised as a full species In 2000,when alon with Russet Bush warbler and Java Bush warbler It was split grom Benguet Bush warbler.
The authors of the BCI paper assign all the species to the genus locustella.
On Alor,at least 13 male bush warblers were heard singing from shrub and grass beneath woodland and forest edge at 859-1,250 m. On Timor,at least 40 male were heard from tall grassland at 1,720-2,100m.
The songs are loud and can be readily heard from at least 100 m. However,the birds on both Islands were skulking and hard to observe,even while singing.
Brief direct views on Alor noted a large,buff-brown,long-tailed bush warbler.
Birds were observed to walk or scurry,mouse-like,on the ground on thin shrub and grass stems.
Although they can fly,they do so rarely and probably mostly under cover.
There were substantial differences In habitat use by bush warblers on Alor and on Timor,presumably resulting from Island specific differences In habitat availability,elevation and land use pressure.
High grazing pressure and repeated fires ensure that there little or no suitable habitat over much of Timor's montane habitat,except on steep slopes.
There are few known threats to bush warblers habitat on Alor,but ongoing a assessments are need.
Timor Bush warbler Is considered near threatened , but still have be seen, ant this Is a big newss...