The sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) is named for its habitat – any rushlike or grasslike plant of the genus Carex, growing in wet places. The sedge warbler was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 (British ornithologists did not distinguish the species from the Eurasian reed warbler until the 18th Century). Its scientific name is derived from the Greek akros, meaning 'pointed', and kephale ('head'), skhoiniklos ('reed') and baino ('to walk'). Birds begin leaving Africa in late February, fatten up at wetlands before and probably after crossing the Sahara, and arrive in Europe from March onwards. It has a streaked brown back and wings, and pale underparts. The rump is warm brown and unstreaked, contrasting with the duller wings. Prey taken by sedge warblers includes mayflies, dragonflies and damselflies, grasshoppers, bugs, lacewings, moths, beetles and flies. Vegetable material includes elderberries and blackberries. On their wintering grounds food includes non-biting midges and flowers and berries from the toothbrush tree.
