| Graceful prinia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Cisticolidae |
| Genus: | Prinia |
| Species: | P. gracilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Prinia gracilis (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823) | |
Thegraceful prinia (Prinia gracilis) is a smallwarbler (in some older works it is referred to asgraceful warbler). Thisprinia is a resident breeder in northeastern Africa (theNile valley in particular) and southernAsia, fromEgypt andSomalia east toSaudi Arabia, where it is sometimes calledstreaked wren-warbler.[2]
This activepasserinebird 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 to 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 7 subspecies.
The long tail is often cocked, and the flight of this species is weak. Like most warblers, the graceful prinia is insectivorous. The call is a rolling trilledbreep, and the song is a hard rolling repetition ofzerlip.
A study published in 2021[3] concludes that the graceful prinia should be split from thedelicate prinia.
TheInternational Ornithological Congress followed this change in an update later that year.[4]
