Vertebrate Zoology

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Sylviidae

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

Sylviidae (Old World warblers, cisticolas, prinias; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A family of small birds which have brown, grey, or greenish plumage, some having brighter colours, fine, pointed bills, medium-length wings with 10 primaries, and fairly short to long tails. The 17 species of Sylvia are typical. Bush warblers (11 species of Cettia) and prinias (25 species of Prinia) have only 10 tail feathers and grasshopper warblers (nine species of Locustella) have graduated tails. Leaf warblers (41 species of Phylloscopus) have well-defined supercilia. The six species of Hippolais are yellow warblers which have distinctive, peaked heads, square-ended tails, and loud, imitative songs. Warblers are mainly arboreal and insectivorous, and nest in trees, bushes, reeds, and on the ground (prinias build woven nests). There are about 50 genera, with about 320 species, many migratory, found in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sylviidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sylviidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Sylviidae.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Sylviidae." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Sylviidae.html

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