Bush warbler's distinctive song leads to discovery of native species

They are extremely secretive birds. Smaller than a sparrow, they normally stay in dense cover, creep effortlessly through thick vegetation and are capable of running quickly on the ground.

Difficult to observe except when singing, the bush warblers are best identified by their songs. Yet because of its distinctive song, a new species of bush warbler has been identified in central China by a team of international scientists, adding one more bird to the country's list of nearly 70 native birds.

Named the Sichuan Bush Warbler (Locustella chengi), it breeds in mountainous regions at altitudes of 1,000 to 2,300 meters. Its winter quarters are unknown, "probably because its secretive manners make it exceedingly difficult to find unless it is singing", Professor Per Alstrom told China Daily.