Grey-breasted Prinia
Prinia hodgsonii
The Grey-breasted Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii) is a uncommon cisticola found in 12 countries, weighing about 6 g. The grey-breasted prinia or Franklin's prinia is a wren-warbler belonging to the family of small passerine birds found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World.
About the Grey-breasted Prinia
The grey-breasted prinia or Franklin's prinia is a wren-warbler belonging to the family of small passerine birds found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. This prinia is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka and southeast Asia. Like other prinias, it often holds the tail upright but it is easily told by a smoky grey band across the breast which contrasts with a white throat. The beak is all black while the legs are pink. The tail is graduated as in other prinias and the grey feathers are tipped in white. In the breeding plumage the upperparts are grey while non-breeding birds are pale above with rufous wings and a weak supercilium. It is found in scrub,…
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How to identify it
These 11-to-13-centimetre (4 to 5 in) long warblers have a longish grey tail with graduated feathers that are tipped in white, they have strong pinkish legs and a short black bill. The eye ring is orange. The sexes look alike in most populations except in P .h. pectoralis of Sri Lanka where the female can be told apart by the incomplete breast band. The underparts are buff white and the grey breast band contrasts with the white throat in the breeding season. They have a rufous wing panel and the upperparts are smoky grey during the breeding season and olive brown in the non-breeding period. Voice: In breeding season, the male gives a spirited performance from an exposed perch excitedly warbling his squeaky yousee-yousee-yousee-which-which-which song. A conversational call-note, zee zee zee is uttered as the birds move along.
What the Grey-breasted Prinia sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The Grey-breasted Prinia can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Grey-breasted Prinia?
- These 11-to-13-centimetre (4 to 5 in) long warblers have a longish grey tail with graduated feathers that are tipped in white, they have strong pinkish legs and a short black bill. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Grey-breasted Prinia?
- The Grey-breasted Prinia is a tiny sized bird weighing about 6 g.
- Where can you see a Grey-breasted Prinia?
- The Grey-breasted Prinia occurs in 12 countries, including India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Laos.
- What does a Grey-breasted Prinia sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Grey-breasted Prinia on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Grey-breasted Prinia?
- The Grey-breasted Prinia is most easily confused with the Graceful Prinia, the Black-chested Prinia and the Karoo Prinia.
- Is the Grey-breasted Prinia endangered?
- The Grey-breasted Prinia is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Grey-breasted Prinia for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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