Bird Guide

Himalayan Prinia vs Rufous-fronted Prinia

Himalayan Prinia (Prinia crinigera)

Himalayan Prinia

Prinia crinigera

Tiny14 gShrubland

Its tail is long and broad, with a cold-toned dark color. It exhibits significant sexual dimorphism in both size and color. Appearance varies by season. During the non-breeding season, both sexes have streaking on the upper parts and mottling on the sides of the face and breast. During the breeding season, males have a blackish crown, which is paler around the edges in many individuals. The face is blackish, and the sides of the breast are dark and mottled. The mantle is streaked, but not as distinctly as the crown. The bill is blackish.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Morten Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Morten Ross · cc-by
Rufous-fronted Prinia (Prinia buchanani)

Rufous-fronted Prinia

Prinia buchanani

Tiny7 gGrassland

The rufous-fronted prinia is a small stocky bird, generally 12 cm long and weighing between 5 and 6 grams. The upper parts are sandy color. The lower parts are off-white. The legs and toes are pink. Remiges and tail feathers are also sandy color. The underside of the tail is creamy white. The head is olive brown, and the bird has a pale eyebrow and a thin red eye circle. The beak is a classic insectivore, thin and slightly curved, and the eyes are reddish-orange.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Rufous-fronted Prinia
Recorded by Mike Prince · Song · Jayamangali Blackbuck Reserve, Tumkur, Karnataka, India · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Koshy Koshy from Faridabad, Haryana, India · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Himalayan Prinia and Rufous-fronted Prinia.