Kilombero Cisticola
Cisticola bakerorum
A large, relatively colorful marsh cisticola. Note the rufous cap, the short white eyebrow stripe, and the pale and black bands at the tip of the tail. Very localized, found only in reedbeds in the Kilombero Swamp, usually in pairs or small groups. The distinctive song is given in chorus: a frantic rising and falling sequence of “squeaky wheel” notes. As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Separated from similar cisticola species by the pale eyebrow patch.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cisticola bakerorum
- Authority
- Fjeldså, Dinesen, Davies, Irestedt, Krabbe, Hansen & Bowie, 2021
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Cisticola
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Speckled Tinkerbird
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A distinctive, large-billed tinkerbird of forest and forest edge, yellow-green below and olive-green above with streaked underparts and scalloped upperparts. Unique among co-occurring tinkerbirds for its lack of bold facial markings. Voice is a fast, almost froglike “popopopopopopo,” as well as occasional hollow calls reminiscent of other tinkerbirds. Also gives short, raspy nasal calls.
Blue Mockingbird
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Not closely related to Northern Mockingbird. Skulking and heard far more often than seen, this fairly large and ample-tailed songbird might be better named "denim catbird" for its overall dull blue plumage, mewing calls, and retiring behavior. Favors thickets, dense scrubby woodlands, and forest understory in foothills and highlands; locally to western lowlands in winter. Tosses leaves on the ground and also feeds at all levels in dense fruiting bushes and trees. Most often seen in short flights across roads or trails from cover to cover. Voice notably varied.
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