Himalayan Prinia

Overview

The Himalayan prinia (Prinia crinigera) is a bird species in the family Cisticolidae, formerly part of the striated prinia complex. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• A long, broad tail with a cold-toned dark color.
• Significant sexual dimorphism in size and colour, with appearance varying by season.
• Non-breeding individuals show streaking on the upper parts and mottling on the sides of the face and breast.
• Breeding males display a blackish crown and face, dark mottled breast sides, and a blackish bill, while breeding females are lighter with less streaking and a pale pinkish bill.

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Habitat

Found in the Indian subcontinent and parts of China, the species' range generally follows the Himalayas. It is distributed across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Yunnan Province in China, where it is sympatric with P. striata.

Did you know?

The species P. c. bangsi was formerly considered a subspecies of Deignan's prinia, formerly known as the brown prinia, before a 2019 study reclassified it.