Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Winding Cisticola
Cisticola marginatus
Winding Cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) — 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 Winding Cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) 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 marginatus
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
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Winding 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 Winding Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Winding Cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c, interior e.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 5.8 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 5.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Winding Cisticola?
The Winding Cisticola is a very small bird that weighs around 13.1 g.
Where does the Winding Cisticola live?
The Winding Cisticola is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, interior e, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Winding Cisticola belong to?
The Winding Cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) belongs to the Cisticolidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Winding Cisticola eat?
The Winding Cisticola is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Winding Cisticola migrate?
The Winding Cisticola is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Winding 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 Winding Cisticola make?
1 real field recording of the Winding 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 Winding Cisticola's range?
The Winding Cisticola has a mapped global range of about 5.5 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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Guides for this bird
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