Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana (Smith, A, 1843)

16 gWeight

The rattling cisticola (Cisticola chiniana) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae which is native to Africa south of the equator, and parts of East Africa.

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

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Rattling Cisticola has been recorded at 328 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 16 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Nairobi NPKenya1,157 records
  2. Lake Nakuru NPKenya985 records
  3. Tarangire NPTanzania599 records
More places
  1. Zaagkuildrift RdSouth Africa595 records
  2. Mkhuze GRSouth Africa560 records
  3. iSimangaliso WP – Eastern ShoresSouth Africa449 records
  4. Serengeti NPTanzania423 records
  5. Maasai Mara NR – Mara TriangleKenya383 records
  6. Murchison Falls NP – North sideUganda367 records
  7. Serengeti NP – SeroneraTanzania335 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaTanzaniaNamibiaUgandaMozambiqueBotswanaZambia

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 rattling cisticola (Cisticola chiniana) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae which is native to Africa south of the equator, and parts of East Africa. It is a common to abundant species in open savanna and scrubland habitats, whether in arid, moist or upland regions. Especially during summer, it is highly conspicuous due to its strident and repetitive call-notes from prominent perches.

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

Questions

How big is the Rattling Cisticola?

The Rattling Cisticola weighs around 16 g.

Where does the Rattling Cisticola live?

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

When is the best time to see the Rattling Cisticola?

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

Is the Rattling Cisticola endangered?

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

What does the Rattling Cisticola eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Rattling Cisticola in?

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

At a glance

Weight
16 g
Habitat
Shrubland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
61 mm
Tail
54 mm
Bill
14 mm
Tarsus
20 mm

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

Range

Africa: central, eastern, southern

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
Rattling Cisticola

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Jan Ebr & Ivana Ebrová. ↗

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