Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Once common and widespread, this species is now becoming increasingly targeted for the Asian Songbird Trade. Dramatic declines have been reported locally, but it is difficult to quantify overall declines. However, they could potentially approach 30% over three generations. Therefore, the species is precautionarily listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species has been reported to be very common on Java and Bali and not uncommon on Sumatra (MacKinnon and Phillipps 1995).
Trend justification
The population is undergoing drastic declines locally as a result of trapping for the Songbird Trade. It is very difficult to quantify overall population declines, but it has dramatically declined in Java. There is no information on the population trend in Bali. On Sumatra, the species is seems to become rarer locally (Iqbal et al. 2016a,b, M. Iqbal in litt. 2018). Therefore, the rate of decline is precautionarily assessed as approaching 30% over three generations (11.4 years).
The species occurs in Sumatra, Java and Bali (Indonesia). Escaped cagebirds are now becoming established on Lombok and Bali (Eaton et al. 2016).
The species occupies a wide range of habitats, from open bush- and scrubland to mangrove forests and secondary growth. Being able to adapt to human-modified habitats, it is also found in gardens, parks and plantations. In Sumatra, it occurs from sea-level to 900 m, in Bali and Java to 1500 m.
This species has not been considered likely to be of conservation concern until recently. However, it now has a dedicated class in the kicau mania, the bird singing competitions in Indonesia, and has experienced intensive trapping pressure partly because of its ability to coexist with people.
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted actions are known, but it does occur in a number of protected areas.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Determine the population size and status. Investigate the population trend on Sumatra. Monitor the species in the Songbird Trade. Decrease the level of trapping. Promote strict enforcement of trade restrictions in wild birds, and devise means of meeting market demands from captive breeding. Develop and initiate programmes to protect remaining populations.
c.13 cm. Dinstictive prinia with double whitish wingbar and tail tips; grey head, dark olive-brown upperparts and wings; white throat and yellow belly. Voice Song highly variable, broad range of squeaky, high-pitched calls.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C., Martin, R., Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J.
Contributors
Iqbal, M.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bar-winged Prinia Prinia familiaris. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bar-winged-prinia-prinia-familiaris on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.