Madagascar Cisticola vs Whistling Cisticola

Madagascar Cisticola

Cisticola cherina

Tiny10 gShrubland

Madagascar cisticolas are small cisticolas, 11 cm long and weighing 8-11 g. Overall they have brownish streaked backs, wings and heads and pale undersides. There are different colour variants, one more brownish, the other paler grey. Its call is described as a loud explosive ticking.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: amantedarmanin · CC BY 4.0

Whistling Cisticola

Cisticola lateralis

Small17 gShrubland

The whistling cisticola is a mid-sized bird that has a body length of 13–16 cm with a male weight of 14-21 grams, and female weight of 12-19 grams. A breeding, male cisticola is described to have gray-brown cheeks and a sooty-brown crown and underparts. Its tail is also a gray-brown color with the main body being mostly dark brown, with hints of reddish-brown. Also, the majority of males consist of a white colored throat, black bill, and dull pink legs. When male cisticolas are non-breeding, they appear a more reddish-brown color, have a richer buff below, and a gray color on their breast.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Madagascar Cisticola and Whistling Cisticola.