Photo: Andy Bunting / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Cisticola
Cisticola cherina
Madagascar Cisticola (Cisticola cherina) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Madagascar Cisticola (Cisticola cherina) is a member of the Cisticolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 10 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 cherina
Where it lives
Malagasy region: Cosmoledo and Astove (southeastern Aldabra group, southwestern Seychelles), Iles Glorieuses (northwest of Madagascar) and Madagascar
Quick facts
- Weight
- 10 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Madagascar Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Cisticola (Cisticola cherina) belongs to the Cisticolidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Malagasy region: Cosmoledo and Astove (se Aldabra group, sw Seychelles), Iles Glorieuses (nw of Madagascar) and Madagascar.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 10 g, with a wing length of about 5 cm and a tail of around 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 591,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Cisticola?
The Madagascar Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 10 g.
Where does the Madagascar Cisticola live?
The Madagascar Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF Malagasy region: Cosmoledo and Astove (se Aldabra group, sw Seychelles), Iles Glorieuses (nw of Madagascar) and Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Madagascar Cisticola belong to?
The Madagascar Cisticola (Cisticola cherina) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Madagascar Cisticola eat?
The Madagascar Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Madagascar Cisticola migrate?
The Madagascar Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar 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 Madagascar Cisticola make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar 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 Madagascar Cisticola's range?
The Madagascar Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 591,000 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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