Sri Lanka bush warbler

The Sri Lanka bush warbler (Elaphrornis palliseri), also known as Ceylon bush warbler or Palliser's warbler, is an Old World warbler which is an endemic resident breeder in Sri Lanka, where it is the only bush warbler.

Sri Lanka bush warbler
In Horton Plains, Sri Lanka

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Locustellidae
Genus: Elaphrornis
Legge, 1879
Species:
E. palliseri
Binomial name
Elaphrornis palliseri
(Blyth 1851)
Synonyms
  • Bradypterus palliseri

Taxonomy

The Sri Lanka bush warbler has sometimes been placed in the genus Bradypterus and a 2018 study confirms that it is a sister to the clade that contains the Bradypterus and Megalurus warblers;[1] it appears to be closely related to that genus, but differs in structure (relatively shorter-tailed and longer-billed), plumage (unmarked) and song. It is monotypic.[2] The species is named after the collector Captain Edward Palliser (1826-1907). Edward and his brother Fred Palliser were both collectors in Sri Lanka. The species was described by Kelaart but published by Edward Blyth in 1851.[3]

Distribution

The Sri Lanka bush warbler is a bird of dense forest undergrowth, often close to water. It is found in the highlands of central Sri Lanka, usually above 1200 m. The nest is built in a shrub, and two eggs are laid.

Description

This is a medium-large warbler at 14 cm. The adult has a plain brown back, pale grey underparts, a broad tail and short wings. There is a weak supercilium, and the throat is tinged orange. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers, but young birds lack the throat colouration.

The Sri Lanka bush warbler is a skulky species which can very difficult to see. Perhaps the best site is Horton Plains National Park. It keeps low in vegetation, and, like most warblers, it is insectivorous.

Males are often only detected by the loud song, which has an explosive queet.

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References
  1. Alström, Per; Cibois, Alice; Irestedt, Martin; Zuccon, Dario; Gelang, Magnus; Fjeldså, Jon; Andersen, Michael J.; Moyle, Robert G.; Pasquet, Eric (2018). "Comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the grassbirds and allies (Locustellidae) reveals extensive non-monophyly of traditional genera, and a proposal for a new classification". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 127: 367–375. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.029. ISSN 1055-7903. PMID 29625229.
  2. http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/sri-lankan-bush-warbler-elaphrornis-palliseri
  3. Blyth, E. (1851). "Report on the mammalia and more remarkable species of birds inhabiting Ceylon". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal: 153–185.
  • BirdLife International (2004). "Bradypterus palliseri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004. Retrieved 11 May 2006.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
  • Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Baker, ISBN 0-7136-3971-7
  • Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
  • A Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Kazmierczak and van Perlo, ISBN 978-1-873403-79-2
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