Levaillant's Cisticola
Cisticola tinniens
The Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens) is a uncommon cisticola found in 8 countries, weighing about 11 g. Levaillant's cisticola, also known as the tinkling cisticola, is a small passerine bird which is native to marshlands in the uplands of Africa, southwards of the equator.
About the Levaillant's Cisticola
Levaillant's cisticola, also known as the tinkling cisticola, is a small passerine bird which is native to marshlands in the uplands of Africa, southwards of the equator.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Levaillant's cisticola is a small, 12–15 cm long, dull-coloured bird with a longish tail and a reddish cap. The upperparts of the breeding adult are grey, heavily streaked with black, and with a rufous panel in the folded wing. The supercilium, face and underparts are buffy white and the tail is russet brown. The short straight bill is blackish-brown with a pinkish base, and the feet and legs are pinkish-brown. The eye is light brown. Non-breeding adults are browner-backed, and juvenile birds have yellower underparts.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Levaillant's Cisticola can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Levaillant's Cisticola?
- Levaillant's cisticola is a small, 12–15 cm long, dull-coloured bird with a longish tail and a reddish cap. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Levaillant's Cisticola?
- The Levaillant's Cisticola is a tiny sized bird weighing about 11 g.
- Where can you see a Levaillant's Cisticola?
- The Levaillant's Cisticola occurs in 8 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Kenya and Lesotho.
- What birds look similar to a Levaillant's Cisticola?
- The Levaillant's Cisticola is most easily confused with the Neddicky, the Rattling Cisticola and the Golden-headed Cisticola.
- Is the Levaillant's Cisticola endangered?
- The Levaillant's Cisticola is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Levaillant's Cisticola for real
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