The males of territorial migratory birds compete intensively to occupy optimal territories at the breeding ground, because territory quality is an important factor that affects their breeding success. This study investigated the pattern of territory settlement by male oriental reed warblers (Acrocephalus orientalis) in 2000 and 2001 at Yangsoo-ri, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Male oriental reed warblers settled asynchronously in the wetland from early May to late June. Females arrived asynchronously from mid-May to early July. Early-arriving males selectively occupied reed-beds as territories. Most of the reed-beds had been occupied by the early-arriving males by mid-May, with the later-arriving males establishing their territories in cattle-beds or in parts of the reed-beds that are already occupied by the early-arriving males. Consequently, the territorial boundary of the early-arriving males became small. The territory characteristics were similar for early- and late-arriving males, with no difference in reed diameter, reed height, and territory size; however, a significant difference in reed density was observed (Mann?Whitney U test, z=-2.034, P<0.05). This study shows that male oriental reed warblers preferentially establish territories in reed-beds with high reed density.