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Yellow-bellied Prinia
Prinia flaviventris
Burnesia flaviventris, Wren Warbler

Yellow-bellied Prinias eat insects for which they forage actively among low bushes or tall grass. These active, slender birds may hop up grass stems to scan the surroundings, making lively and loud calls. But at the slightest sign of danger, they dive down into the tall grass, or flies low over the grass-tops for a short distance before dropping into cover.

Breeding: Yellow-bellied Prinias nest at the base of tall grasses (e.g., lallang), reeds or sedges, about 2 feet off the ground. The nest is an untidy loose ball of grasses or leaves wrapped around tall stems which keep the nest above the ground and disguises it. 3-4 reddish chestnut eggs are laid, with a band or cap of richer colour at the broader end. Their eggs have been remarkably like coral beads.
Mangrove and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Main features: Small (13cm); Head slaty grey; upperparts olive green; throat, breast white; belly yellow; tail narrow long; sometimes white eyebrows, short and thin; eye red. Genders look alike.

Juvenile: Upperparts brownish; tail tip white; underparts all yellow.
yellow-bellied prinia
Photo from
Morten Strange
Call: Described as a plaintive mewing like a hungry kitten yee-ee or waa which is possibly an alarm call; short twittering twee-di-lee or chip-cheererere-up; also Tee-tirrata' rak.

Status in Singapore: Common resident on the island and offshore islands.

World distribution: Pakistan to Borneo and Java.

Similar birds: Tailorbirds: lack grey head of Yellow-bellied Prinia.

Classification: Family Cisticolidae. World 119 species, Singapore 2 species.
Status and threats: Yellow-bellied Prinias are not at risk in Singapore because they have adapted well to cultivated areas. They are found in grasslands (particularly those with tall grass), reedbeds and scrub.

REFERENCES
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  • Morten Strange, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Malaysia and Singapore: including Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Borneo", Periplus, 2000 (p. 318: description, voice, habits, distribution, status, photo).
  • Morten Strange, "Birds of Southeast Asia: A photographic guide to the birds of Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia", New Holland, 1998 (p. 83: photo, facts).
  • Lim Kim Seng and Dana Gardner, "Birds: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore", Sun Tree Publishing Ltd., 1997 (p. 109: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, diagram, number of species).
  • G W H Davison and Chew Yen Fook, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", New Holland Publishers Ltd., 1995 (p. 108: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, photo).
  • Morten Strange and Allen Jeyarajasingam, "Birds: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", Sun Tree Publishing, 1993 (p. 90: description, distribution, habits, habitat, photo).
  • Clive Briffett, "A Guide to the Common Birds of Singapore", BP Science Centre,1992 (p. : habit, habitat).
  • Lim Kim Seng, "Vanishing Birds of Singapore", Nature Society (Singapore), 1992 (p. 15: status in Singapore).
  • Christopher Hails, "Birds of Singapore" illustrated by Frank Jarvis, Times Editions, 1987 reprinted 1995 (p. 136: habits, description, status in Singapore, and lovely drawings of the birds).
  • G C Madoc, "An Introduction to Malayan Birds", Malayan Nature Society, 1947 (p. 181: description, habits, habitat).
  • Sir John A S Bucknill and E N Chasen, " Birds of Singapore and South-East Asia", Tynron Press, 1927, edition 1990 (p. 235: brief description).
 
By Ria Tan, 2001