Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chirping Cisticola
Cisticola pipiens
Chirping Cisticola (Cisticola pipiens) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chirping Cisticola (Cisticola pipiens) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.5 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 pipiens
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chirping Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Chirping Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chirping Cisticola (Cisticola pipiens) is a member of the Cisticolidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF wc.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.5 g, with a wing length of about 6.4 cm and a tail of around 7.3 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 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chirping Cisticola?
The Chirping Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 13.5 g.
Where does the Chirping Cisticola live?
The Chirping Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF wc, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Chirping Cisticola belong to?
The Chirping Cisticola (Cisticola pipiens) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chirping Cisticola eat?
The Chirping Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Chirping Cisticola migrate?
The Chirping Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chirping 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 Chirping Cisticola make?
1 real field recording of the Chirping Cisticola — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Chirping Cisticola's range?
The Chirping Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million 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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