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Photo: Matt Muir / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Chattering Cisticola

Cisticola anonymus

Chattering Cisticola (Cisticola anonymus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.

The Chattering Cisticola (Cisticola anonymus) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.9 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

  1. Class Aves
  2. Order Passeriformes
  3. Family Cisticolidae Cisticolas & Allies
  4. Genus Cisticola
  5. Species anonymus

Where it lives

Southern Nigeria to eastern DR Congo and northwestern Angola

Quick facts

Weight
13.9 g
Family
Cisticolidae
Habitat
Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Chattering Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of semi-open woodland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Chattering Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Chattering Cisticola (Cisticola anonymus) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Nigeria to e DR Congo and nw Angola.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 4.9 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 2.4 million km².

Songs & calls

Chattering Cisticola — Duet, song

Recorded by Jaap van der Waarde Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Chattering Cisticola?

The Chattering Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 13.9 g.

Where does the Chattering Cisticola live?

The Chattering Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Nigeria to e DR Congo and nw Angola, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Chattering Cisticola belong to?

The Chattering Cisticola (Cisticola anonymus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.

What does the Chattering Cisticola eat?

The Chattering Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Chattering Cisticola migrate?

The Chattering Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Chattering 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 Chattering Cisticola make?

1 real field recording of the Chattering Cisticola — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Chattering Cisticola's range?

The Chattering Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 2.4 million km².

Conservation

Least Concern

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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