It is a resident breeder from Pakistan and India to south China and southeast Asia.

In breeding plumage, adults are grey-brown above, with a short white supercilium and rufous fringes on the closed wings.

The endemic race in Sri Lanka retains summer plumage, including the shorter tail, all year round.

This skulking passerine bird is typically found in wet lowland grassland, open woodland, scrub and sometimes gardens.

The plain prinia builds its nest in a shrub or tall grass and lays three to six eggs.