Prinia

Taxobox
name = Prinias

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image_width = 200px
image_caption = Yellow-bellied Prinia
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Cisticolidae
genus = "Prinia"The prinias are small insectivorous birds belonging to the passerine bird family Cisticolidae. They are often also alternatively classed in the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae.

The prinias are sometimes referred to as wren-warblers. They are a little known group of the tropical and subtropical Old World, the roughly thirty species being divided fairly equally between Africa and Asia.

These are birds mainly of open habitats such as long grass or scrub, in which they are not easily seen. They are mainly resident, migration being limited to local cold weather movements. Non-breeding birds may form small flocks.

Prinias have short wings but long tapering tails. They are fairly drab birds, brown or grey above (sometimes with dark streaks) and whitish below. Some species have different breeding and non-breeding plumages. The bill is a typical insectivore's, thin and slightly curved.

pecies list in taxonomic order

* Swamp Prinia, "Prinia cinerascens"
* Striated Prinia, "Prinia criniger"
* Brown Prinia, "Prinia polychroa"
* Hill Prinia, "Prinia atrogularis"
* Rufous-vented Prinia, "Prinia burnesii"
* Swamp Prinia, "Prinia cinerascens"
* Striated Prinia, "Prinia criniger"
* Brown Prinia, "Prinia polychroa"
* Hill Prinia, "Prinia atrogularis"
* Grey-crowned Prinia, "Prinia cinereocapilla"
* Rufous-fronted Prinia, "Prinia buchanani"
* Rufescent Prinia, "Prinia rufescens"
* Grey-breasted Prinia, "Prinia hodgsonii"
* Bar-winged Prinia, "Prinia familiaris"
* Graceful Prinia, "Prinia gracilis"
* Jungle Prinia, "Prinia sylvatica"
* Yellow-bellied Prinia, "Prinia flaviventris"
* Ashy Prinia, "Prinia socialis"
* Tawny-flanked Prinia, "Prinia subflava"
* Plain Prinia, "Prinia inornata"
* Pale Prinia, "Prinia somalica"
* River Prinia, "Prinia fluviatilis"
* Black-chested Prinia, "Prinia flavicans"
* Karoo Prinia, "Prinia maculosa"
* Drakensberg Prinia, "Prinia hypoxantha"

* Sao Tome Prinia, "Prinia molleri"
* Banded Prinia, "Prinia bairdii"
* Red-winged Prinia, "Prinia erythroptera"

Species formerly in "Prinia" but now considered distinct enough to warrant separate generic treatment:
* Sierra Leone Prinia, "Schistolais leontica"
* White-chinned Prinia, "Schistolais leucopogon"
* Namaqua Prinia, "Phragmacia substriata"
* Roberts' Prinia, "Oreophilais robertsi"

References

* Nguembock B.; Fjeldsa J.; Tillier A.; Pasquet E. (2007): A phylogeny for the Cisticolidae (Aves: Passeriformes) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, and a re-interpretation of a unique nest-building specialization. "Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution" 42: 272-286.

*Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). Pp. 378-492 in del Hoyo J., Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (2006) "Handbook of the Birds of the World". Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers" Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ISBN 978-84-96553-06-4

* Urban, E.K.; Fry, C.H. & Keith, S. (1997) "The Birds of Africa", vol. 5. Academic Press, London. ISBN 0121373053