Jungle Prinia

The jungle prinia is a warbler, 15 cm long, that breeds in Bangladesh, India, far south-western Nepal and Sri Lanka, typically in dry open grassland, open woodland, scrub and sometimes gardens. It has short rounded wings, a longish tail, strong legs and a short black bill. Breeding adults are grey-brown above with a short white eyebrow, a warmer brown rump, rufous-fringed wings and white tail edges, and whitish-buff underparts (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is insectivorous, builds its nest in a shrub or tall grass and lays three to five eggs. The song is a repetitive pit-pretty. The distinctive endemic Sri Lankan race, valida, keeps its summer plumage with the shorter tail all year and lacks the eyebrow and the white in the tail. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).