• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic note

Previously placed in Sylvia but moved to current genus following Cai et al. (2019). Until recently considered conspecific with C. nana (AERC TAC 2003, Cramp et al. 1977-1994, Dowsett and Forbes-Watson 1993, Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993), but differs in its sandier-rufous (less greyish) crown to back (2); greatly reduced blackish centres of inner tertials and central rectrices (2); whiter underparts (1); slightly longer bill (effect size 1.58, score 1); but slightly shorter wing, indicating non-migratory habit (effect size –1.48, score 1). Claims of “very different” voices (Shirihai et al. 2001) (apparently responsible for near-universal acceptance of split) could not, however, be confirmed in independent analysis of available recordings (Boesman 2016), although low level of divergence may exist. Form described as ticehursti on basis of single specimen from S Morocco (near Ouarzazate), and treated either as separate species or as subspecies of C. deserticola, is probably aberrant individual of subspecies maroccana of latter (which it resembles in general structure and in tail and tertial patterns), or hybrid between it and present species (which it resembles in having pale sandy-brown upperparts). Monotypic.

Taxonomic source(s)
Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. 2021. Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 6. Available at: https://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v6_Dec21.zip.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2024	Least Concern
2016	Least Concern
2012	Not Recognised
2008	Not Recognised
2004	Not Recognised
2000	Not Recognised
1994	Not Recognised
1988	Not Recognised

Migratory status	full migrant	Forest dependency	does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type		Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	2,940,000 km2
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding)	9,350,000 km2
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	unknown	-	-	-
Population trend	stable	-	suspected	-
Generation length	2.32 years	-	-	-

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified. In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 1,000-5,000 breeding pairs, equating to 3,000-15,000 individuals (BirdLife International 2004), but Europe forms <5% of the global range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any current declines or substantial threats.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any current declines or substantial threats.

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
Algeria	extant	native
Cape Verde	extant	vagrant
Libya	extant	native
Mali	extant	native
Mauritania	extant	native
Morocco	extant	native
Niger	extant	native
Tunisia	extant	native
Western Sahara	extant	native		yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Desert	Hot	major	non-breeding
Desert	Hot	major	breeding
Grassland	Subtropical/Tropical Dry	suitable	non-breeding
Grassland	Subtropical/Tropical Dry	suitable	breeding
Grassland	Temperate	suitable	breeding
Shrubland	Subtropical/Tropical Dry	major	non-breeding
Shrubland	Subtropical/Tropical Dry	major	breeding
Altitude	0 - 2200 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Purpose	Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture	international

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: African Desert Warbler Curruca deserti. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/african-desert-warbler-curruca-deserti on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.