Grey-backed Cisticola

Cisticola subruficapilla

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesShrublandDomed nestTiny · 10 g

About the Grey-backed Cisticola

The grey-backed cisticola or red-headed cisticola is a small passerine bird. This cisticola is a resident breeder in southernmost Angola, Namibia and western South Africa.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The grey-backed cisticola is a small, 13–14 cm long, vocal, dull-coloured bird with a dark rufous crown to its reddish head. It has a rufous panel in the folded wing. The grey bill is short and straight, and the feet and legs are pinkish-brown. The eye is light brown. The southern form, "grey-backed cisticola" proper, found in southern Namibia and South Africa has a grey back heavily streaked with black. Its underparts are greyish white. Although cisticolas can be very similar in plumage, this greyish subspecies is quite distinctive.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Lesotho.

When to see it

Peak activity in September · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Grey-backed Cisticola for real

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