Sri Lanka bush warbler
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Sri Lanka bush warbler
| image = Flickr - Rainbirder - Ceylon bush warbler (Bradypterus palliseri) (cropped).jpg
| image_caption = In Horton Plains, Sri Lanka
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| parent_authority = Legge, 1879
| taxon = Elaphrornis palliseri
| authority = (Blyth, 1851)
| synonyms = * Bradypterus palliseri
}}
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.
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;{{Cite journal|last1=Alström|first1=Per|last2=Cibois|first2=Alice|last3=Irestedt|first3=Martin|last4=Zuccon|first4=Dario|last5=Gelang|first5=Magnus|last6=Fjeldså|first6=Jon|last7=Andersen|first7=Michael J.|last8=Moyle|first8=Robert G.|last9=Pasquet|first9=Eric|date=2018|title=Comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the grassbirds and allies (Locustellidae) reveals extensive non-monophyly of traditional genera, and a proposal for a new classification|url=https://zenodo.org/record/2587007|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=127|pages=367–375|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2018.03.029|pmid=29625229|s2cid=4645834|issn=1055-7903}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/sri-lankan-bush-warbler-elaphrornis-palliseri |title=Sri Lankan Bush-warbler (Elaphrornis palliseri) {{!}} the Internet Bird Collection |website=ibc.lynxeds.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091227084048/http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/sri-lankan-bush-warbler-elaphrornis-palliseri |archive-date=2009-12-27}} 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.{{cite journal|author=Blyth, E.|year=1851|title=Report on the mammalia and more remarkable species of birds inhabiting Ceylon|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40259764|journal=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal|volume=20|pages=153–185}}
Distribution
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 skulking species which can be 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.
References
{{Commons category|Bradypterus palliseri}}
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite iucn|author=BirdLife International|year=2004|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/3029/0|title=Bradypterus palliseri|access-date=11 May 2006}} 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}}
{{Passerida|S.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1303497}}