Chubb's Cisticola

Overview

Chubb's cisticola (Cisticola chubbi) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae that is native to montane regions of West and East Africa. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Males trill and females whistle in duets, with females producing longer and lower-pitched notes.
• Singing often occurs in choruses of up to five birds, typically at the end of the breeding season.
• Individuals perform dance-like movements, including tail movement and wing flapping to create snapping noises, while singing from elevated places.

Habitat

Native to the Western High Plateau, the Albertine Rift montane forests, and the East African montane forests. The species has a range spanning southeastern Nigeria, southwestern Cameroon, Mount Cameroon, eastern DR Congo, western Kenya, and the Marungu highlands. It is territorial and spends most of its time in dense vegetation.

Did you know?

Solo singing is very rare for this species, as they primarily sing in duets or choruses of up to five birds while staying within less than one meter of one another. These vocalisations are likely used for territorial defence rather than just courtship.