prinias

The farm is her field site; the prinias, cisticolas, and cuckoo finches that parasitize them are her study birds.

A Year on the Wing TIM DEE 2009

Claire studies tawny-flanked prinias and red-faced cisticolas both small streaky warblers that have been parasitised by cuckoo finches laying eggs in their nests.

A Year on the Wing TIM DEE 2009

Knowing the fields and knowing the birds, they walk to the nests as the prinias or cisticolas leave them—quietly, unfailingly, and directly.

A Year on the Wing TIM DEE 2009

Claire went to work on the major’s farm partly because its ramshackle outer fields are full of prinias and cisticolas and cuckoo finches, and partly because the major has amassed an astonishing collection of bird skins and eggs.

A Year on the Wing TIM DEE 2009