Rock-loving Cisticola

Overview

The rock-loving cisticola (Cisticola aberrans), also known as the lazy cisticola, is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa and was formerly considered to be conspecific with the Huambo cisticola.

Identification

• Medium-sized cisticola with an overall length of 13–14 cm.
• Plain brown back and rufous crown.
• Grey-brown face with a whitish supercilium.
• Whitish underparts and a long, slender tail.

Habitat

The species is found across sub-Saharan Africa, with a range extending from Mauritania in the north to South Africa and Mozambique in the south. It is usually associated with rocky wooded terrain that features interspersed patchy grass tussocks.

Did you know?

The specific epithet aberrans derives from the Latin words for 'deviating' or 'aberrant'. Taxonomists have debated its classification, with some subspecies previously grouped under the separate name 'rock-loving cisticola' while others were known as the 'lazy cisticola'.