Cricket Warbler

Overview

The cricket warbler (Spiloptila clamans), also known as the cricket longtail or cricket prinia, is a small species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is often the sole member of the genus Spiloptila, though the red-fronted prinia is occasionally included. The species is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• A small, perky bird 9–10 cm in length with pale buffy rufous upperparts and whitish cream underparts.
• Features a distinctive long, graduated tail composed of twelve grey, black, and white-tipped feathers.
• Marked by a white supercilium, a pale yellow rump, and black streaks on the crown; males possess a greyer cast across the nape.
• Produces a monotonous, cricket-like call and moves its tail jerkily while perched or on the ground.

Habitat

The cricket warbler occurs across the Sahel Zone, ranging from southern Mauritania and northern Senegal to South Sudan and northern Eritrea, with recent breeding records in Western Sahara. It breeds in thorn scrub, particularly acacia scrub, and savanna with broad-leafed trees, extending into true desert where sufficient vegetation is present but avoiding grassy plains or dense bush.

Diet

This species feeds on insects, foraging for them low down in thorn scrub or in tussocks of grass. It is usually seen in small parties that move restlessly from one patch of low scrub to another to locate food.

Did you know?

The cricket warbler is a partial migrant, with northern populations moving southwards during the dry season and returning north when the rains arrive. Breeding times vary significantly by location, occurring in July in Mali and Mauritania, all year round in Senegal, and in two specific periods in South Sudan.