A passion for prinias

A tawny-flanked prinia foraging among Mexican sunflowers

I don’t know exactly what it is about small birds that appeals to me so much. Perhaps it’s their miniature perfection in structure, or the fact that many are so readily overlooked. Chief within this mini realm are some of the LBJs (“little brown jobs”) that lack the flash of sunbirds and pytilias but make up for it with personality.

Tawny-flanked prinias find themselves at the top of my favourites stack. Diminutive, with strident calls and tail-wagging fervour, it’s hard to imagine a walk through grassland or bushveld without their accompanying rapid “TSIP TSIP TSIP TSIP TSIP TSIP TSIP TSIP TSIP” or the slightly whiny alarm call.

I’m fortunate to live near a green zone, and I’ve learned where different family groups lurk. So, I developed a mental picture of the photo I’d like to get of a prinia: the quintessential pose standing legs-astride on grass or a reed, tail cocked, beak wide while calling. I could imagine the look on my subject’s face – the dark eyestripe and pale supercilium (eyebrow) imparting a rather severe countenance; almost a mild rebuke. And, of course, it should be in the dry season, when the warm brown palette of the environment would match the bird. Considering how common they are, I thought it would be a doddle…

When I inadvertently approached a nest site, an adult prinia warned its nearby fledgling of my presence

Remaining still and unobtrusive, the juvenile prinia took note of its parent's alarm call

Knowing the flight path of one family group near a seasonal dam, for my first attempt I concealed myself among the sedges in the early morning and waited for them to bounce past. They do that – leapfrogging each other en route to their foraging grounds. My positioning was fine, but they are such busy little birds that getting a clear view was a challenge. Although they were calling to each other, they were gleaning for insects near the bases of the plants so the pose I’d envisioned didn’t materialise.

Frequent attempts were made during my weekend walks, but – always active – the birds spent much more time in among the sticks or at the base of grasses. And with several birds travelling together, getting close enough to get a photo where the bird was identifiable proved challenging because one of them would notice me and start alarm-calling. Of course, they generally alarm-called from the tops of grasses and reeds but lining up a decent background was yet another hurdle. Photos there were aplenty, but precious few that were satisfying.

A good post-preening shake on a dewy morning sprayed tiny water droplets in all directions

Stomachs to the early morning sun, an adult and juvenile prinia welcome a new day

But, with patience and perseverance, I’ve amassed a small collection of prinia photos that has begun to capture their personalities. Short-tailed juveniles trying to be inconspicuous while being exhorted to beware the human with the big eye. Birds preening in the early morning sun. An over-the-shoulder glance by an adult in a grove of Mexican sunflowers. And yes, a bird on a vertical sedge stem, beak open to call, tail cocked and severe countenance intact – only during the wet season when it contrasted beautifully with the green vegetation!

[Photos (c) The Rambling Zimbo.  Camera body: OM System OM-5 Mk1; Lenses M.Zuiko 75-300 4.8-6.7 II and M.Zuiko 12-45 f/4 Pro. Post-processing in DXO PhotoLab 8].

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