Photo: Henrik Gronvold / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-tailed Cisticola
Cisticola melanurus
Black-tailed Cisticola (Cisticola melanurus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Black-tailed Cisticola (Cisticola melanurus) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 8.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Cisticolidae Cisticolas & Allies
- Genus Cisticola
- Species melanurus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 8.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-tailed Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-tailed Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-tailed Cisticola (Cisticola melanurus) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF sw DR Congo and n Angola.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8.7 g, with a wing length of about 4.5 cm and a tail of around 4.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 442,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-tailed Cisticola?
The Black-tailed Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 8.7 g.
Where does the Black-tailed Cisticola live?
The Black-tailed Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF sw DR Congo and n Angola, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-tailed Cisticola belong to?
The Black-tailed Cisticola (Cisticola melanurus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-tailed Cisticola eat?
The Black-tailed Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-tailed Cisticola migrate?
The Black-tailed Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-tailed Cisticola endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Black-tailed Cisticola's range?
The Black-tailed Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 442,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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