Wailing Cisticola
Cisticola lais
Medium-sized, streak-backed cisticola of uplands. Shows a rufous cap and rufous in the wing. Varies geographically in overall coloration, boldness of streaking on the back, and other traits. Found in grassland and savanna on rocky slopes with a mix of bushes, grass, and often aloes. Generally inconspicuous; seen singly or in pairs. Vocalizations include a short, explosive, accelerating trill, and rising wails. Very similar to Red-headed Cisticola, but has a different voice, a larger bill, more buffy underparts, and shows rufous in the wing. Also similar to Rattling Cisticola, but has more rufous in the face and a longer tail. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.
Identification
The wailing cisticola (Cisticola lais) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. Lynes's cisticola of Uganda, Kenya and northern Tanzania is sometimes regarded as a subspecies of this species. The appearance of their eggs varies widely; they can be white, pale blue, spotted, or streaked.
Taxonomy
Genus: Cisticola; Family: Cisticolidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Cisticola lais
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Genus
- Cisticola
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
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Lonchura leucogastra
Dark brown finch-like bird with a white belly. Black face and throat blend smoothly into the brown crown and back. Inhabits open forest, forest edge, meadows, agricultural fields, and gardens. Generally forages in smaller flocks than Scaly-breasted and Chestnut Munias. Calls include loud peep and a loud “tsick”.
Small Buttonquail
Turnix sylvaticus
Tiny quail-like bird that is actually more closely related to shorebirds. Intricately patterned above, with a buffy-orange breast and pale belly. Note black spots on the upper sides of the chest. Female is the better-marked of the two sexes. Found in grassy or scrubby areas, where it can be difficult to see; listen for female’s low sonorous moos, most commonly given at dawn and dusk.
Pacific Swallow
Hirundo javanica
Common swallow of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, often in cities and towns as well as above fields, lakes, and forests. Adult iridescent blue above and grayish buff below, with orangish throat and forehead. Similar to Barn Swallow, which has longer outer tail feathers and a dark line separating the throat and breast, lacking in Pacific. Frequently perches on telephone lines, often with other swallow species.
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