Black-chested Prinia
Prinia flavicans
An active, unstreaked warbler with a long graduated tail that is sometimes cocked. It is yellowish below with a distinct white throat. When breeding it has a broad dark chest band (narrower in the female) that is reduced or absent in northern populations. Pairs inhabit arid savanna, shrubland, and gardens, where they glean small insects from leaves. The species’ typical song is a dry harsh “dziiip” note repeated 10-30 times in rapid succession. The similar Tawny-flanked Prinia may resemble non-breeding Black-chested Prinia, but Tawny-flanked can be identified by the rusty wings and lack of yellowish underparts.
识别特征
Black-chested prinias are small, long-tailed warblers whose body sizes range from 13 to 15 centimeters. They are a pale golden-brown on their dorsal side and during the non-breeding season they have pale yellow dorsal plumage. In their alternate plumage (breeding season), they develop a black breast-band and their underparts become white or a buttery yellow.<p>Black-chested prinias make a loud, repeated "chip-chip-chip" call as well as a buzzy sequence of "zrrrt-zrrrt-zrrrt" sounds.
分类信息
- 学名
- Prinia flavicans
- 命名信息
- (Vieillot, 1821)
- 目
- Passeriformes
- 科
- Cisticolidae
- 属
- Prinia
分布与栖息地
This species is near-endemic to the southern African thornbelt. Black-chested prinias are most abundant in the Kalahari Basin, where their average densities are 0.7 ha per individual. They experience three distinct seasons within their subtropical climate range:<p>Along with Acacia habitats, Olea-Buddleia vegetation (within the Cymbopogon-Themeda grassveld) is important in the nesting and feeding habits of black-chested prinia.
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
Like other Prinia, insects make up a majority of black-chested prinias' diet. In a study conducted by Kopij in 2005, small beetles were found to account for one-third of this species' diet. Beetle and weevil larvae, as well as adult flies, comprised much of the birds' stomach contents in Kopij's study. Plant matter like seeds, leaves, and berries are also a non-negligible part of this species' diet. Black-chested prinias have also been observed probing unopened Aloe marlothii flowers in South Africa during the winter season.<p>Black-chested prinias usually breed during the summer, but their breeding behavior can be erratic due to their dependence on rains. Individuals may take advantage of unseasonal rains during the non-breeding season and breed during the winter.<p>This species is known to be parasitized by the parasitic weaver (Anomalospiza imberbis). One to two parasitic weaver chicks per clutch have been found to be raised by black-chested prinia parental hosts in Acacia habitats near grasslands.<p>Though black-chested prinias are not thought to be migratory, there is evidence that they may be locally nomadic. Herremans found that black-chested prinias expand their range during severe droughts, becoming a bit nomadic in order to adapt to challenging environmental conditions. Kopij noticed a seasonal decrease in the local populations of black-chested prinias in "inselbergs" (bushy isolated hills within dry grasslands) .<p>Black-chested prinias have a complete biannual molt, meaning that they undergo a complete molt (including flight feathers) twice a year. This species' spring molt (September–November) is a short one of approximately 10 weeks. The autumn molt (February–June, with 95% of adults molting in April) is a longer one of approximately 15 weeks. A complete biannual molt like this one is quite rare in passerines. The evolutionary path of birds with complete biannual cycles is not well understood, though Beltran et al. found that birds following this molting strategy experience strict seasonality in food resources, integument damage, insulation requirements, and camouflage requirements.<p>This species' molt shows a consistent pattern dependent on season, but the erratic nature of their breeding season results in an occasional overlap of breeding and molting cycles. When molting overlaps with breeding in the autumn, black-chested prinias molt into their alternate plumage (with the black breast-band) even though they are nearing the non-breeding season.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- stable
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Yellow-browed Bunting
Emberiza chrysophrys
Small, modestly attractive bunting of brushy areas and open forests. Brown overall with a paler belly and bright yellow-suffused supercilium. Male has mostly black head, female has a predominantly brown head, but the sexes are otherwise rather similar. Head pattern recalls Rustic and Tristram's Buntings, but neither has yellow in the supercilium. Largely solitary, but may appear in small flocks on migration.
Black Honeyeater
Sugomel nigrum
Tiny nomadic honeyeater with thin decurved bill, found across arid inland Australia. Male has completely black upperparts and black hood that extends down the center of the breast to a rough point. Female gray-brown above, with mottled dark marks on pale brown underparts. Often attracted to areas of flowering Eremophila bushes. Call a long, high-pitched whistle, repeated slowly.
Sharp-tailed Ibis
Cercibis oxycerca
A medium-sized wading bird, mostly black with a red bill and legs. Relatively long tail projection imparts a long-bodied appearance which is enhanced by its short legs. At close range, note bare red throat and orbital skin. Occurs in open wetlands and seasonally flooded savannas, usually in pairs or small groups, probing in mud, shallow water, or soft ground for invertebrates and fish. Unusual, far-carrying call is a single, horn-like note, often given in duet by pairs, with one higher-pitched than the other; the overall effect is like the braying of a donkey. Larger and longer-tailed than Bare-faced Ibis, much more vocal, and does not occur in large groups.
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