Ashy Prinia

(Prinia socialis)

Size: 13-15 cm

Area: Widespread resident over much of the region except the Himalayas

Habitat: Reedbeds, Scrubland, Dense Vegetation or even Gardens

Description: A very common sighting across much of India. Can be easily spotted around any cultivation, bushy area or even in your backyard.

In Breeding adults, crown and back are ashy-grey with brown wings. The throat and breast are white with rufous underparts. Non-Breeding birds develop a narrow, white supercilium and the tail gets longer. The bill is short and black in colour.

There is no sexual dimorphism.

They are found solitary or in pairs, foraging mostly in the shrubs and scrubs.

Food: Ashy Prinia is an insectivorous bird and would take just about any insect for a meal

Call: A variety of jimmy…jimmy…jimmy, tee…tee…tee or zeet…zeet….zeet

IUCN Status: LC – Least Concern

~Arjun Basandrai