Wildlifeof Vietnam
Hill Prinia
Warblers & Cisticolas
Photo: JJ Harrison · CC BY-SA 3.0
Prinia superciliaris
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Diet
Insects and larvae
Habitat
Montane scrub, grass, cultivation, forest clearings and secondary growth
Range
Himalayas through southern China and mainland Southeast Asia; northern and southern Vietnam
Clutch size
Usually about 4 eggs
Incubation period
About 10 days
The hill prinia is a small, long-tailed warbler of upland scrub. It shows grey sides to the head, a whitish eyebrow, brown or rufous-brown upperparts, pale buff underparts and warmer flanks and undertail coverts. Plumage varies geographically and seasonally, so its repeated calls and habitual tail movements are useful field clues. Birds are normally found singly, in pairs or in family parties (Thai Department of Fisheries account; BirdForum Opus).
Across its Asian range it uses grassy slopes, scrub, cultivation, forest clearings and secondary growth, commonly in hills above about 900 metres. The subspecies superciliaris occurs in northern Vietnam and klossi in southern Vietnam. Hill prinias glean insects and their larvae from low vegetation and build concealed nests in grass or shrubs. General life-history compilations report clutches around four eggs and incubation of roughly ten days (BirdForum Opus; Oiseaux.net).
Quick answers
- What does the Hill Prinia eat?
- Insects and larvae
- What habitat does the Hill Prinia live in?
- Montane scrub, grass, cultivation, forest clearings and secondary growth
- Where is the Hill Prinia found?
- Himalayas through southern China and mainland Southeast Asia; northern and southern Vietnam
- How many eggs does the Hill Prinia lay?
- Usually about 4 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Hill Prinia incubated?
- About 10 days