Red-winged grey warbler

Red-winged grey warbler
Illustration by Joseph Smit (1880)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Cisticolidae
Genus:	Drymocichla Hartlaub, 1881
Species:	D. incana
Binomial name
Drymocichla incana Hartlaub, 1881

The Red-winged Grey Warbler is scientifically known as (Drymocichla incana). This is a small to medium sized bird, native to Central Africa. The Red-winged Grey Warbler is mostly gray with a white underside.They are known for their long tails and a small orange spot on the juvenile wings. They are commonly found in swamp and savanna-like environments and are found breeding in rainy months.

Physical description

The Red-winged Grey Warbler is around 13cm tall and weighs about 10g making this a small to medium sized bird. This bird has a light gray back with a white underside. When flying with their wings fanned out, brown and red feathers can be seen. The species have small pink legs and a sharp, short black beak. With white around the eyes and light gray feathers on the forehead, they are known for their distinct long black tail. The juveniles have a small red mark on the outside of their wings. Both male and females look alike making it difficult to distinguish the gender. These birds tend to live four and a half years

Taxonomy

The Red-winged Grey Warbler is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is monotypic within the genus Drymocichla.

Habit and Region

The Red-winged Grey Warbler is a petite bird that sustains itself by feeding on insects. It is a member of the Cisticolidae family and is often spotted in the moist savannas and swampy tropical regions in Central Africa, particularly Cameroon, Nigeria, and Uganda. This bird often resides in areas with thick vegetation and proximity to water sources.

Threats and Conservation Status

This species boasts a vast and varied geographic range, and according to the criteria for evaluating vulnerability, it does not meet the threshold for concern. While its extent of occurrence spans less than 20,000 km2, these birds do not exhibit any other indicators of vulnerability, such as shrinking or irregular range size, insufficient or inadequate habitat quality. The Red-winged Grey Warblers are not globally threatened. These birds are difficult to find and not commonly found or seen. There have been very few observations of this bird in national parks in Africa, especially in the western regions.

Behavior

Diet

The Red-winged Grey Warbler bird mainly eats insects especially, beetles, spiders, and tiny insect larvae. It catches its prey while flying through the vegetation or hovering mid-air. This method of hunting helps it find and target its prey accurately. Though small, the creature needs this diet to survive and maintain its ecosystem's balance.

Breeding

Male and female Red-winged Grey Warblers engage in breeding during the rainy season, spanning from spring (around May) to fall (October). To signify their partnership, they often sing in unison. Following hatching, the fledgling Red-winged Grey Warblers display a distinct appearance, with a reddish wing patch, reddish belly, and a yellowish base on their bill.

Song and Call

Male birds are known for their loud and lively singing. They typically produce sounds that resemble "chwee" or "chwit weer-weer-weer," sometimes repeating a note to extend their melody. Female birds are recognized for their repeating "tchwee" sound. When male and female birds are paired, they occasionally harmonize in unison, usually initiated by the female bird.

References

• Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). pp. 378–492 in del Hoyo J., Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (2006) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ISBN 978-84-96553-06-4