Home › Aves › Cisticolidae › Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
SPECIES PROFILE
Ashy Prinia (Prinia socialis)
Prinia
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
India Nepal Bangladesh eastern Pakistan Bhutan Sri Lanka Myanmar
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Grassy open woodland scrub home gardens lowlands hills
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Cisticolidae
GENUS
Prinia
📋 Description
SIZE
13-14 cm long 10-15 g
COLORATION
Ash grey above black crown cheek coppery brown wings rufous underparts short white supercilium in non-breeding
ADAPTATIONS
Biannual moult strong legs for hopping produces snapping noise in flight
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Grassy open woodland scrub home gardens lowlands hills
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
India Nepal Bangladesh eastern Pakistan Bhutan Sri Lanka Myanmar
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-5 glossy eggs in cone nests incubated 12 days by both parents
DIET DETAILS
Insects specific items vary
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Brood parasitism by cuckoos predation by cats
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Active Tail-Waggers: Ashy Prinias flit with 12-gram bodies catching 5 grams of insects daily in Haryana's grasslands. Their snapping wings alert flocks.
2
Seasonal Plumage Changers: These prinias cover 2000 sq km in Bangalore's scrub nesting in grass stems. Pesticides threaten their food.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Haryana grasslands
Bangalore scrub
Nilgiris hills
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March Dry season enhances visibility in grass for spotting prinias
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Spot ashy prinias tail-wagging in low vegetation
