Plain prinia
The plain prinia (Prinia inornata), also known as the plain wren-warbler or white-browed wren-warbler,[2] 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.
| Plain prinia | |
|---|---|
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| P. i. inornata in winter Uttar Pradesh, India | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Cisticolidae |
| Genus: | Prinia |
| Species: | P. inornata |
| Binomial name | |
| Prinia inornata (Sykes, 1832) | |
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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.
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P. i. insularis
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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 tlee-tlee-tlee.
References
- BirdLife International (2016). "Prinia inornata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22713615A94383192. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22713615A94383192.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- Grewal, Bikram; Bill Harvey; Otto Pfister (2002). Photographic guide to birds of India. Hong Kong: Periplus editions / Princeton University Press. p. 343