The hill prinia is a species of passerine bird in the family Cisticolidae.
Region
Himalayan foothills to Indochina and southern China
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills of northeastern India and Bhutan through northern Myanmar and Laos to Vietnam, Thailand, and southern China (including Yunnan and Guangxi). Prefers scrubby slopes, forest edge, secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and overgrown clearings. Common in mixed shrub-grass mosaics near cultivation and along roadsides in hilly terrain. Often keeps to low and mid-levels in dense cover but will sing from exposed perches.
Altitude Range
300–2400 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Hill prinias are small, active warblers of the family Cisticolidae that favor shrubby hillsides and forest edges. They often cock and flick their long tails while foraging low in vegetation. A crisp pale eyebrow (supercilium) and rufous wash on the flanks help separate them from similar prinias. They are generally resident, with local upslope or downslope movements following seasons.
Temperament
skulking yet active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season when pairs defend small territories. Nests are neat cups woven of grasses and fibers, placed low in shrubs or tall grasses. Outside breeding, small family groups may move together through scrub.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A bright, repetitive series of tinkling trills and sharp chips delivered from exposed perches. Calls include thin tsee and ticking notes used for contact and alarm.
