Spotting the Yellow-Bellied Prinia from Lahore's Suburbs

12th April, 2024

(All photographs in this article are taken by the author)

Bird watching in Lahore always brings surprises, and I've been hoping to spot a Yellow-bellied Prinia for ages. Finally, I got lucky and found a bunch of them fluttering about. They're cute little birds that love places like grasslands, marshes, and areas with tall grasses near river bodies and ponds. They hang out near water, too, hunting for bugs and other tiny critters.

Scientifically speaking, the yellow-bellied prinia belongs to the family Cisticolidae, a diverse group of small passerine birds found primarily in Africa and Asia. Within this family, Prinia flaviventris stands out for its striking yellow belly, olive-green upperparts, and distinctive long tail. Its slender build and agile movements make it well-suited for navigating through dense vegetation in search of food.

Sadly, Lahore's growing cityscape has already eaten up their homes. But I did some digging and found out that other bird watchers have spotted them near Head Baloki in Phoolnagar, at least 60 kilometers from Lahore. Closer to home, near the Sialkot bypass, there's a marshy spot where I've seen lots of other birds. No luck with the yellow-bellied prinia there yet, though.

During the Eid holidays in April 2024, I stumbled upon a colony of them. Among the tall grasses, I heard their chirps and saw their distinctive long tails. They were even louder than the other species of Prinia, but surprisingly calmer. It felt like a special moment, a reminder that nature still has a place in our bustling city. Furthermore, it's fascinating to note the adaptability of these delicate creatures. Despite the encroachment of urbanization, they persist, finding refuge in the pockets of greenery that still dot Lahore's landscape.