Photo: Bruno Geisler / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Coastal Cisticola
Cisticola haematocephalus
Coastal Cisticola (Cisticola haematocephalus) — 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 Coastal Cisticola (Cisticola haematocephalus) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 13.1 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 haematocephalus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Coastal 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 Coastal Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Coastal Cisticola (Cisticola haematocephalus) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF coastal Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 211,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Coastal Cisticola?
The Coastal Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 13.1 g.
Where does the Coastal Cisticola live?
The Coastal Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF coastal Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Coastal Cisticola belong to?
The Coastal Cisticola (Cisticola haematocephalus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Coastal Cisticola eat?
The Coastal Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Coastal Cisticola migrate?
The Coastal Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Coastal 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 Coastal Cisticola make?
1 real field recording of the Coastal 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 Coastal Cisticola's range?
The Coastal Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 211,000 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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