Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha Scientific name definitions

12–13 cm; 9–11 g. A brownish prinia with minimal streaking below, strongly graduated tail. Male has lores creamy yellow, extending above eye as indistinct supercilium that fades into grey-brown ear-coverts; dark brown spot or line in front of eye; crown and upperparts buffy grey-brown, crown faintly streaked blackish; flight-feathers dark brown with tawny-brown outer margins (forming rufous panel on folded wing); tail reddish-brown with buff margins and faint subterminal darker bars; throat creamy buff, underparts buffy yellow, finely streaked blackish on breast and lower throat; iris warm brown, narrow pinkish eyering; bill black; legs flesh-brown. Differs from P. maculosa in having paler, more yellow-brown upperparts, streaking largely confined to breast (not extending to upper throat and belly), underparts usually yellower, with no grey wash on flanks. Female is usually less heavily streaked below than male. Juvenile has upperparts tinged rufous, underparts washed yellowish and with only indistinct streaks.

Soutpansberg and escarpment of E South Africa and W Swaziland, S through midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to Eastern Cape (around East London).

Male sings from prominent perch on low bush, usually with tail cocked, a series of repetitive buzzy “dzeeep”, “shreep” or “chip” notes; female may accompany male, with similar harsh, buzzy notes. Vocalizations similar to those of P. maculosa, but apparently lacks that species’ winding alarm call.