Photo: Frédéric SALEIN / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ashy Cisticola
Cisticola cinereolus
Ashy Cisticola (Cisticola cinereolus) — 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 Ashy Cisticola (Cisticola cinereolus) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 17 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 cinereolus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 17 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ashy Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Ashy Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ashy Cisticola (Cisticola cinereolus) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF ne.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 17 g, with a wing length of about 6 cm and a tail of around 5.2 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 615,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ashy Cisticola?
The Ashy Cisticola is a small bird that weighs around 17 g.
Where does the Ashy Cisticola live?
The Ashy Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF ne, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Ashy Cisticola belong to?
The Ashy Cisticola (Cisticola cinereolus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Ashy Cisticola eat?
The Ashy Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Ashy Cisticola migrate?
The Ashy Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ashy 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.
What sound does the Ashy Cisticola make?
1 real field recording of the Ashy Cisticola — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ashy Cisticola's range?
The Ashy Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 615,000 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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