Himalayan prinia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Himalayan prinia |
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| P. c. crinigera in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prinia
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| Species: |
crinigera
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The Himalayan prinia (Prinia crinigera) is a small bird. It belongs to the bird family called Cisticolidae. This bird was once thought to be the same as the striped prinia. Together, they were called the "striated prinia."
Contents
Where Does the Himalayan Prinia Live?
This bird lives in the Indian Subcontinent and parts of China. Its home generally follows the Himalayas mountain range. You can find it in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bhutan, and Nepal. It also lives in the Yunnan Province in China.
A study in 2019 changed how we classify these birds. Now, prinias in Myanmar, most of China, and Taiwan are considered to be the striped prinia. Both the Himalayan prinia and the striped prinia live in the same areas of the Yunnan Province. When two species live in the same place, it's called being sympatric.
Different Kinds of Himalayan Prinias
There are four known types, or subspecies, of the Himalayan prinia:
- P. c. striatula: This type lives in the mountains of Afghanistan and west Pakistan. It is the lightest in color.
- P. c. crinigera: This type is found from north Pakistan all the way to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India.
- P. c. yunnanensis: This type lives only in the northwestern Yunnan Province in China.
- P. c. bangsi: This type is found in the southeastern Yunnan Province. This one was once thought to be a type of Deignan's prinia until the 2019 study.
What Does the Himalayan Prinia Look Like?
The Himalayan prinia has a long, wide tail. Its tail is a dark, cool color.
Boys and girls of this bird look quite different. This is called sexual dimorphism. Their appearance also changes with the seasons.
How They Look in Different Seasons
During the non-breeding season, both male and female prinias have streaks on their upper bodies. They also have mottled (spotted) patterns on the sides of their face and chest.
When it's breeding season, the males change. They get a blackish crown on their head. The edges of this black crown can be lighter in some birds. Their face also turns blackish. The sides of their chest become dark and mottled. Their back has streaks, but they are not as clear as the ones on their head. The male's beak is blackish during this time.
Breeding females are lighter in color than males. They also have fewer streaks. Their beak is a pale pinkish color. It is darker from the tip to the lower part of the beak.
