Grey-backed Cisticola

Overview

The grey-backed cisticola (Cisticola subruficapilla), also known as the red-headed cisticola, is a small passerine bird that serves as a resident breeder in southernmost Angola, Namibia and western South Africa. It is a very common species with a large estimated range of 820,000 km², classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Small, 13–14 cm long, vocal and dull-coloured with a dark rufous crown and reddish head.
• Grey bill that is short and straight, with pinkish-brown feet and legs and a light brown eye.
• Southern subspecies features a grey back heavily streaked with black and greyish white underparts, while the northern subspecies has a brown streaked back and cold buff underparts.
• Call consists of a soft prrr t followed by a sharp wheee phweee.

Habitat

This species inhabits coastal fynbos, karoo shrub and grassy areas on estuarine flats. Its range covers southernmost Angola, Namibia and western South Africa.

Diet

The bird forages for small insects, typically observed flitting in bushes or grass at the base of trees. It is usually seen singly or in pairs while feeding.

Did you know?

The bird constructs a ball-shaped nest with a side entrance using dry grass, cobwebs and felted plant down. Although sexually dimorphic plumage is absent, juvenile birds are distinctly duller with a yellow face.