Graceful Prinia

The Graceful Prinia, Prinia gracilis, is a small warbler. This prinia is a resident breeder in northeast Africa and southwest Asia from Egypt and Somalia east to north India.

This active passerine bird is typically found in shrub or tall grass in a variety of habitats with thick undergrowth, tamarisks or similar cover. Graceful Prinia builds its nest in a bush or grass and lays 3–5 eggs.

These 10–11 cm long warblers have short rounded wings, and a long tapering tail with each feather tipped with black and white. In breeding plumage, adults are grey-brown above, with dark streaking. The underparts are whitish with buff flanks, and the bill is short and black.

The sexes are similar. In winter, adults are brighter sandy brown above with weaker streaking, there is more buff on the sides, and the bill is paler.

There are 12 subspecies, of which P. g. akyildizi, of southern Turkey is the darkest, brownest, and most heavily streaked above, and has the brightest buff flanks.

The long tail is often cocked, and the flight of this species is weak. Like most warblers, Graceful Prinia is insectivorous. The call is a rolling trilled breep, and the song is a hard rolling repletion of zerlip.

Reference

• Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Baker, ISBN 0–7136–3971–7
• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0–691–04910–6