Notes on the vocalizations of Banded Prinia (Prinia bairdii)

In the following we briefly analyze and compare voice of the different races of Banded Prinia (Prinia bairdii). We also try to quantify the extent of any vocal differences using the criteria proposed by Tobias et al. (2010), as a support for taxonomic review. We have made use of sound recordings available on-line from Xeno Canto (XC) and Macaulay Library (ML).

Song of all races is a single (sometimes composite) note repeated at rather fast  pace. Comparison of song of the different races (illustrated with multiple sonograms in the pdf version of this note):​ bairdii, obscura (Ruwenzori 2000m, eastern DR Congo, Lolwa 900m, eastern DR Congo), melanops (Kenya).

From the above, there seems to be quite an important difference between the repeated multi-element note (bairdii) and the simple dagger-shaped note (obscura/melanops).

Four additional recordings from Uganda require attention, from SW Uganda (impenetrable forest) and Bwamba forest. These vocalizations are slightly less complex than above examples from Cameroon /Gabon (bairdii) but clearly related. It is however not clear to which taxon these recordings belong (both bairdii and obscura occur in W Uganda, the latter occurring at higher elevations). 'Impenetrable forest' (elevation >1190m) and 'Bwamba forest' (elevation 670-760m) are not exclusively at high elevation, and may thus be bairdii (but sonogram example 2 of obscura apparently also is of rather low elevation). A video from impenetrable forest is indicated to be ssp obscura, but the bird clearly has some barring on throat, so based on plumage (and voice) it might rather be bairdii, while a picture from the same area taken at 2251m elevation clearly is obscura based on the solid black throat.

IF the above voice examples from Uganda are indeed of bairdii, then vocal difference between obscura/melanops and bairdii seems to be rather significant. Vocal difference between bairdii and obscura/melanops can be expressed based on the repeated composed note vs. a repeated single note (score 2-3) and difference in note length (many short vs one long; score 2), which would lead to a total vocal score of 4-5.

There is clearly need for a more thorough vocal study, which should in particular focus on the situation in Uganda.

This note was finalized on 11th February 2016, using sound recordings available on-line at that moment. We would like to thank in particular the sound recordists who placed their recordings for this species on XC and ML: Jacob Cooper, Peter Kaestner, Mike Nelson, Bram Piot, Mark Robbins and Keith Stuart.

References

Tobias, J.A., Seddon, N., Spottiswoode, C.N., Pilgrim, J.D., Fishpool, L.D.C. & Collar, N.J. (2010). Quantitative criteria for species delimitation. Ibis 152(4): 724–746.

More Information: on230_banded_prinia.pdf