Desert Cisticola (Cisticola aridulus)
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Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus Witherby, 1900

9.2 gWeight

The desert cisticola (Cisticola aridulus) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae.

Busiest months: November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Desert Cisticola has been recorded at 156 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 14 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Nairobi NPKenya372 records
  2. Benfontein NRSouth Africa247 records
  3. Zaagkuildrift RdSouth Africa181 records
More places
  1. Rietvlei NRSouth Africa112 records
  2. Avis DamNamibia103 records
  3. Polokwane GRSouth Africa103 records
  4. Tarangire NPTanzania99 records
  5. Serengeti NPTanzania94 records
  6. Engikaret Lark PlainsTanzania81 records
  7. Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Ngorongoro CraterTanzania75 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaTanzaniaNamibiaBotswanaZambiaEthiopiaSenegal

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The desert cisticola (Cisticola aridulus) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Desert Cisticola?

The Desert Cisticola weighs around 9.2 g.

Where does the Desert Cisticola live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

When is the best time to see the Desert Cisticola?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Desert Cisticola endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Desert Cisticola as Least Concern.

What does the Desert Cisticola eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Desert Cisticola in?

It belongs to the family Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Weight
9.2 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
50 mm
Tail
41 mm
Bill
11 mm
Tarsus
17 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Passerines Passeriformes
Family
Cisticolas & Allies Cisticolidae
Genus
Cisticola

Other birds in the genus Cisticola

Red-faced CisticolaRed-faced CisticolaCisticola erythropsSinging CisticolaSinging CisticolaCisticola cantansWhistling CisticolaWhistling CisticolaCisticola lateralisTrilling CisticolaTrilling CisticolaCisticola woosnamiChattering CisticolaChattering CisticolaCisticola anonymusBubbling CisticolaBubbling CisticolaCisticola bulliensHunter's CisticolaHunter's CisticolaCisticola hunteriChubb's CisticolaChubb's CisticolaCisticola chubbiKilombero CisticolaKilombero CisticolaCisticola bakerorumBlack-lored CisticolaBlack-lored CisticolaCisticola nigrilorisRock-loving CisticolaRock-loving CisticolaCisticola aberransHuambo CisticolaHuambo CisticolaCisticola bailunduensis
Desert Cisticola

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Lip Kee Yap. ↗

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