THE Tawny-flanked Prinia is a fairly typical ‘little brown job’ or LBJ in the parlance of bird enthusiasts, but it has endearing qualities and is a very busy and chirpy bird!

Also read: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – the Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Description

The Tawny-flanked Prinia is a very small bird at 13cm and 9.5g. It has pale grey brown upperparts and buff white coloured underparts. Pale white eyebrows are a distinguishing feature as is the longish rufus brown tail which is often held erect and swayed from side to side. Males and females look alike and are difficult to distinguish.

Distribution

The Tawny-flanked Prinia can be found along the eastern and most northern parts of South Africa from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) through to Limpopo Province.

Habitat

This is primarily a grassland species but can also be found in shrubby areas and along streams. It has adapted well to humans and can often be found close to human habitations.

Feeding

Although they enjoy grasslands, they are almost exclusively insect eaters feeding on a range of invertebrates such as caterpillars, beetles and flies. They also occasionally feed on the nectar of aloes.

Breeding

The Tawny-flanked Prinia is a monogamous species, and they pair for life. The nest is built by both adults and is a neatly woven oval construction with a side-top entrance. The nest is most often built not far above the ground in shrubs or even tufts of grass. Two to five eggs are laid which are incubated primarily by the female. Both adults take turns to feed the young who leave the nest after about two to three weeks.

Predators and threats

The Tawny-flanked Prinia is listed as ‘Least concern’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but the loss of grasslands for agriculture and human habitation is potentially a long-term problem as it reduces their habitat significantly.

Local information

This species is common in our grasslands such as the Msinsi Grassland and grasslands within Krantzkloof and Springside Nature Reserves.

Interesting facts

The nests of the Tawny-flanked Prinia are sometimes parasitised by the Cuckoo Finch. To combat this problem the Tawny-flanked Prinias have developed a strategy of laying eggs with different colours and patterns so as to confuse the Cuckoo Finch!

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