The white-chinned prinia, also known as the white-chinned warbler, is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae.
Region
West and Central Africa
Typical Environment
This species inhabits humid lowland and submontane zones from forest edges and secondary growth to riverine thickets and farm bush. It favors dense, tangled vegetation where it forages close to the ground to mid-understory. It tolerates moderately disturbed habitats and often occurs along paths, clearings, and overgrown plantations. In montane regions it persists in scrub and forest margins provided cover is dense.
Altitude Range
0–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The white-chinned prinia, also called the white-chinned warbler, is a small, skulking cisticolid that keeps to dense thickets and forest edges. It is best identified by its conspicuous white chin and soft, scolding calls. Pairs often remain in contact with quiet chips while moving through tangled vegetation. It frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the understory.
Temperament
skulking but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups moving through dense understory. It is monogamous and builds a neat, cup-shaped nest low in thick vegetation. Outside of breeding, it may join mixed-species flocks, especially in forest edge and secondary growth.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The song is a series of thin, high-pitched trills and tinkling phrases delivered from concealed perches. Calls include sharp chips and scolding rattles used to keep contact in cover.
Plumage
Olive-brown to grayish-olive upperparts with paler, buffy underparts and a distinct white chin and upper throat. The tail is long and graduated, often darker with paler edges, and frequently flicked. The head is slightly grayer with fine, diffuse streaking in some birds.
Diet
Primarily consumes small arthropods such as insects, spiders, and their larvae. It gleans prey from leaves, twigs, and vine tangles, often hanging briefly to pick items from the undersides of foliage. Occasionally it hawks short distances for flushed insects and may take tiny fruits opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense thickets, vine tangles, forest edges, and secondary growth where cover is abundant. Foraging is concentrated from near ground level up to mid-understory along shaded margins and overgrown clearings.
