tana river cisticola Cisticola restrictus

A mysterious and poorly known bird that has not been seen since the 1970s. A large, streak-backed, long-tailed upland cisticola. Looks pale and washed-out overall, but with a slight rufous wash to the crown and tail. Found in dry thorn savanna in the Tana River Valley of Kenya. Very similar in appearance to Ashy Cisticola, but distinguished by voice and by the rufous hints in the plumage. Also similar to Rattling Cisticola, but much paler. The song is poorly known, but probably similar to Rattling Cisticola’s: a couple of “che” notes followed by a rattling trill.