Madagascar Cisticola
Cisticola cherina
Tiny brown bird with a long tail and bill. Note streaked back and pale underparts. In flight, the white tail tips can be conspicuous. Found in all open habitats, including grassland, marsh, rice paddies, and moist scrub. Incessantly gives a dry “zip” call, often in a hovering flight display. Similar to larger Madagascar Lark, but has a longer tail and bill, and is usually seen perched up on grass or low bushes rather than walking on the ground. All other similar species have a different bill shape.
Identification
Madagascar cisticolas are small cisticolas, 11 cm long and weighing 8-11 g. Overall they have brownish streaked backs, wings and heads and pale undersides. There are different colour variants, one more brownish, the other paler grey. Its call is described as a loud explosive ticking.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cisticola cherina
- Authority
- (Smith, A, 1843)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Cisticola
Range and habitat
It is found across the whole of Madagascar and the islands of Astove and Cosmoledo in the Seychelles. The Seychelles birds are suspected to be recent arrivals, although there are some early records of the species there. It occupies a range of open habitats, including savannah, grasslands, marshes, pastures, scrublands and forest edges and clearings. It is also found in a variety of human modified habitats, including paddy fields and croplands. The species is sedentary.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-backed Thrush
Turdus hortulorum
Brightly colored thrush of well-shaded undergrowth in a variety of habitats, from deep hilly forests to city parks and gardens. Male has clean pale gray upperparts and a bright orange belly, female and immature male replace gray with brown and have dark streaking on the throat and chest. Forages loudly in the undergrowth, usually singly or in pairs; tends not to associate with other thrush species. Often approachable.
Spectacled Spiderhunter
Arachnothera flavigaster
Large spiderhunter with thick yellow eyerings, a yellow ear tuft, and a long decurved bill. Yellow eyering and cheek splotch serve to distinguish it from most other spiderhunters. Yellow-eared Spiderhunter is very similar but noticeably smaller, with a narrower eyering, faint streaking on the breast (versus plain), and a slightly longer, more slender bill. Found in lowland and foothill forests, where it forages actively in the upper levels. Calls include harsh chip notes.
Sumatran Laughingthrush
Garrulax bicolor
Stunning Sumatran endemic, now sadly in heavy decline due to poaching for the cagebird trade. Extirpated throughout much of former range, and now only present in more remote montane forests. Combination of dark body, bright white head, and black “mascara” is unique and unmistakable, but shy and reclusive habits make this bird more readily heard than seen; groups may suddenly erupt into a collective raucous cackling song which carries a considerable distance. Also gives a variety of hoots, rattles, and churrs.
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