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Birds of Wildcliff Nature Reserve
Dedicated to
plant and wildlife conservation in South Africa's Cape Floral Kingdom
Karoo (Spotted)
Prinia (Prinia maculosa)
 Description.
Long-tailed African warbler. Male dark olivaceous-brown on crown,
nape and upperparts to uppertail coverts. Lores and ‘eyebrow’
white; brown eye stripe. Lemon-yellow to off-white underparts
heavily streaked down to flanks and vent. Strong graduation to
tail with outer tail feathers 2.6cm (1in.) shorter than central tail
feathers. Female is duller.
Call. Song a
repeated, staccato ‘chik-chik-chik or a harder ‘kikikiki.’
Displays a wide variety of calls including chattering and churry notes;
a buzzy ‘trrrrr’ reminiscent of a watch being wound.
Habitat. Fynbos,
coastal dune scrub, Karoo in acacia thickets, bracken covered slopes in
mountainous areas; common in areas dominated by Bobartia.
Behavior. Found in
pairs throughout the year. During non-breeding season a territory
is occupied, although loosely defined. After nesting this species
can often be found in small family groups. When alarmed cover is
sought in the protection of thick vegetation, but at other times found
perched prominently on tall vegetation and even buildings. Can be
quite tame around human habitation. Occasionally seen engaging in
the peculiar behavior of cocking the tail over the back and ticking the
tail side to side.
Diet. Almost
exclusively insects and spiders. Eats seeds of Ehrhata and other
grasses, Acacia cyclops, wheat, barley, maize, peas, figs, grapes,
apricots and Pinus nuts. Also known to eat flowers and drink
nectar.
Predators. Many
nest predators including true shrikes and bush-shrikes, ants (kill
nestlings) and striped mouse (Rhabdomys
pumilio) will eat the eggs. Parasitism by Diderick Cuckoo has
been observed but infrequently.
Reproduction.
Territorial during the breeding season, male enthusiastically
advertises boundaries with song. Evidence suggests that breeding
territories are re-used in consecutive years. Nest is constructed with
grass and lined with white vegetable down and rarely with feathers or
hair; both sexes build nest. Nests usually found <1m in bushes.
Female will lay 1-5 eggs, with 3-4 being the average and will be the
only one to incubate. Eggs are incubated for 12-17 days (14 avg.) and
nestlings will not fledge for at least 12 days. Both sexes will
feed and brood young. Fledglings will remain with parents for 2-3
weeks after leaving the nest.
On Wildcliff. Seen
at Wildcliff.
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Karoo prinia
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Links & References
- Wildcliff
Bird
List
- Birding
Resources Page
- Sinclair, Ian, and Peter Ryan. Birds of Africa South
of the Sahara. Princeton: NJ: Princeton University Press, 2003.
- Sinclair, Ian, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton. Birds of
Southern Africa. 3rd ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press,
2002.
- M.P.S. Irwin. Prinia maculosa. In: Fry, C.H., Keith S. and
Urban K, eds. The Birds of Africa. Vol. 4. London: Academic Press,
2000. Pp. 228-230.
Thanks to Conan Guard
for this page.
Based on sightings in
the immediate area, as many as 160
bird species may be seen at Wildcliff. If
you are interested in conducting an ornithological survey or study at
Wildcliff, please complete the Application Form on the research page.
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