Madagascar Cisticola

Overview

The Madagascar cisticola (Cisticola cherina) is a small bird in the family Cisticolidae that inhabits the western side of the Indian Ocean. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and forms a superspecies with the zitting and Socotra cisticolas.

Identification

• Small size, measuring 11 cm in length and weighing between 8 and 11 g.
• Brownish streaked backs, wings, and heads contrasted with pale undersides, with variants ranging from brownish to pale grey.
• Call described as a loud, explosive ticking.

Habitat

Found across the whole of Madagascar and the Seychelles islands of Astove and Cosmoledo. The species occupies a wide range of open habitats, including savannah, grasslands, marshes, pastures, scrublands, forest edges, and clearings, as well as human-modified environments such as paddy fields and croplands. It is a sedentary species.

Diet

These birds are insectivores that primarily eat crickets and other insects. They tend to forage near cacti.

Did you know?

The population in the Seychelles is suspected to be a recent arrival, despite some early records of the species being present in that region.