Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-backed Cisticola
Cisticola eximius
Black-backed Cisticola (Cisticola eximius) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-backed Cisticola (Cisticola eximius) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 11.9 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 eximius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-backed Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-backed Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-backed Cisticola (Cisticola eximius) is a member of the Cisticolidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, c, w.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.9 g, with a wing length of about 4.9 cm and a tail of around 3.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 652,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-backed Cisticola?
The Black-backed Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 11.9 g.
Where does the Black-backed Cisticola live?
The Black-backed Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, c, w, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-backed Cisticola belong to?
The Black-backed Cisticola (Cisticola eximius) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-backed Cisticola eat?
The Black-backed Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-backed Cisticola migrate?
The Black-backed Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-backed 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-backed Cisticola's range?
The Black-backed Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 652,000 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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Guides for this bird
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