Namaqua Warbler
Phragmacia substriata
The Namaqua Warbler (Phragmacia substriata) is a rare cisticola found in 2 countries, weighing about 11 g. The Namaqua warbler, also known as the Namaqua prinia or white-breasted prinia, is a small passerine bird, a cisticolid warbler and the sole member of the genus Phragmacia.
About the Namaqua Warbler
The Namaqua warbler, also known as the Namaqua prinia or white-breasted prinia, is a small passerine bird, a cisticolid warbler and the sole member of the genus Phragmacia. It was formerly placed in the genus Prinia, but was found to be sufficiently distinct to warrant a genus of its own.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Namaqua warbler is 12–13 cm long, with short rounded wings, a long tail, strong legs and a short straight black bill. The head has a whitish eyebrow and the upperparts are otherwise a rich russet brown. The throat and lower face are whitish with no streaking, and the breast is white with faint streaking. The rear flanks are buff. The long, brown tail is typically cocked up at an angle. The feet and legs are pinkish-brown, and the eye is brown. The sexes are identical, but juveniles are duller than the adults. The calls include a high-pitched treeep-treep-trrrrrr.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Namaqua Warbler can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Namaqua Warbler?
- The Namaqua warbler is 12–13 cm long, with short rounded wings, a long tail, strong legs and a short straight black bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Namaqua Warbler?
- The Namaqua Warbler is a tiny sized bird weighing about 11 g.
- Where can you see a Namaqua Warbler?
- The Namaqua Warbler occurs in 2 countries, including South Africa and Namibia.
- What birds look similar to a Namaqua Warbler?
- The Namaqua Warbler is most easily confused with the Stierling's Wren-Warbler, the Rufous-fronted Prinia and the Senegal Eremomela.
- Is the Namaqua Warbler endangered?
- The Namaqua Warbler is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Namaqua Warbler for real
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