Hunter's Cisticola
Cisticola hunteri
A large, plain cisticola with a reddish cap and two bands across the tail tip, one pale and one dark. Found in open montane habitats with thick herbaceous undergrowth, including forest edge, grassland, and heath, almost always in pairs or small groups. As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Very similar to Chubb’s Cisticola, but in the small area of overlap, Hunter’s occurs at higher elevations, and is distinguished by the softly streaked back and different vocalizations. Fairly similar to Singing Cisticola, but lacks a rufous panel in the wings. The distinctive song is given in chorus: a frantic series of spitting notes that runs up and down the scale, accompanied by simpler “cher-wee” calls.
Identification
Hunter's cisticola (Cisticola hunteri) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitats are tropical moist montane and high-elevation shrubland. It is a dueting species.
Taxonomy
Genus: Cisticola; Family: Cisticolidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Cisticola hunteri
- Authority
- Shelley, 1889
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Cisticola
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Tiny and active sunbird of forest edges, parks, and gardens; the most common urban sunbird throughout most of its expansive distribution; ranges from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Lesser Sundas. Both sexes have a plain olive back, a yellow belly, and white tail edges that are flared out in flight. The male flashes an iridescent blue throat while the female has a yellow throat and eyebrow. Female Brown-throated Sunbird also has a yellow belly, but it is larger with a thicker bill and lacks the white tail patches of Ornate. Gives a rising “dwee”, a familiar sound even in cities. Formerly grouped with other, closely related species under “Olive-backed Sunbird.”
Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher
Melaenornis ardesiacus
Slim, long-tailed, all-black flycatcher with a pale yellow eye. Found along the edge and in clearings within Albertine Rift montane forest. Single birds of pairs perch out on conspicuous perches, sometimes quite low. Calls include low chuckling notes and a high, thin whistle; the song is a whispy, complex mix of high-pitched notes. Distinguished from all similar black birds by its pale eye.
Indian Pitta
Pitta brachyura
A colorful stubby-tailed bird, also known as “Navrang,” translated as “nine colors.” Colors are most striking when the bird is in flight. This bird has long, strong legs and a stout bill, a buffy crown with a black stripe in the middle, a black eye-stripe, and and buffy underparts with bright red on the vent. Upperparts are green, with a blue shoulder patch. It is usually seen foraging on forest floors with thick undergrowth, catching insects in leaf litter. This bird is vocal, giving its characteristic two-noted whistle call at dusk and dawn.
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