Prinia Inornata

The plain prinia (''Prinia inornata''), also known as the plain wren-warbler or white-browed wren-warbler, p. 343 is a small cisticolid warbler found in southeast Asia. It is a resident breeder from Pakistan and India to south China and southeast Asia. It was formerly included in the tawny-flanked prinia (''Prinia subflava''), resident in Africa south of the Sahara. The two are now usually considered to be separate species.

Description

These 13–14-cm long warblers have short rounded wings, a longish tail, strong legs and a short black bill. In breeding plumage, adults are grey-brown above, with a short white supercilium and rufous fringes on the closed wings. The underparts are whitish-buff. The sexes are identical.

In winter, the upperparts are a warmer brown, and the underparts more buff. The tail is longer than in summer. There are a number of races differing in plumage shade. The endemic race in Sri Lanka retains summer plumage, including the shorter tail, all year round.

Biology

This skulking passerine bird is typically found in wet lowland grassland, open woodland, scrub and sometimes gardens. The plain prinia builds its nest in a shrub or tall grass and lays three to six eggs. (The tawny-flanked prinia nests in herbage and lays two to four eggs.)

Like most warblers, the plain prinia is insectivorous. The song is a repetitive '.

Gallery

Plain prinia near Chandigarh.jpg, ''P. i. terricolor''
Punjab, India
Plain prinia (Prinia inornata fusca) Nepalgunj.jpg, ''P. i. fusca''
Nepalgunj, Nepal
Plain Prinia @ Chengalpattu Jan 2014 (cropped).jpg, ''P. i. franklinii''
Tamil Nadu, India
Plain prinia (Prinia inornata insularis).jpg, ''P. i. insularis''
Sri Lanka
Prinia inornata, Plain prinia - Rot Fai Park-Bangkok (23562106906).jpg, ''P. i. herberti''
Bangkok, Thailand

References

Further reading

* ''Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa'' by Baker,
* ''Birds of India'' by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp,
* ''Birds of The Gambia'' by Barlow, Wacher and Disley,

External Links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q73928

plain prinia
Birds of China
Birds of South Asia
Birds of Southeast Asia
plain prinia