Photo: Eric Gropp from USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-winged Cisticola
Cisticola galactotes
Rufous-winged Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes) — 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 Rufous-winged Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes) 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 galactotes
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cisticolidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-winged 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 Rufous-winged Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-winged Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes) is a member of the Cisticolidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.8 cm and a tail of around 5.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 287,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-winged Cisticola?
The Rufous-winged Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 13.1 g.
Where does the Rufous-winged Cisticola live?
The Rufous-winged Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF s, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Rufous-winged Cisticola belong to?
The Rufous-winged Cisticola (Cisticola galactotes) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous-winged Cisticola eat?
The Rufous-winged Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous-winged Cisticola migrate?
The Rufous-winged Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-winged 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 Rufous-winged Cisticola make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous-winged 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 Rufous-winged Cisticola's range?
The Rufous-winged Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 287,000 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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