Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana

Large, streak-backed, long-tailed cisticola of uplands. Note the pale tips to the tail and the rufous cap. Shows geographical variation in overall richness of color, including the rufous cap. Common in a wide variety of open habitats, especially savanna and scrub. Feisty bird that often mobs predators and sits out to sing on open perches. Song is variable, but typical pattern is a couple of “che” notes followed by a long, rattling trill. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.