Rattling cisticola facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rattling cisticola
C. c. frater in Namibia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Cisticola
Species:	chiniana

The rattling cisticola (Cisticola chiniana) is a small bird found in Africa. It belongs to the Cisticolidae family. These birds are very common in open areas like savannas and scrubland. You can often hear them during summer. They make loud, repeated calls from the tops of trees or bushes.

Where Do Rattling Cisticolas Live?

Rattling cisticolas live in many parts of Africa. You can find them south of the equator and in parts of East Africa. Their home countries include Angola, Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. They are also found in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and many other nations.

What Kind of Places Do They Like?

These birds prefer dry, moist, or wet savannas. They also like woodlands, especially those with thorn trees or bushes. You might see them in miombo and mopane woodlands too. They are very common on the coast of Mozambique. They also live in the Eastern Highlands and other uplands up to 2,000 meters high. Sometimes, they live near farms or at the edges of thick forests. They even live near the Okavango delta.

Other types of cisticolas live in different places. For example, the Tinkling cisticola prefers dry, broad-leaved woodlands. Other Cisticola species live in marshy areas. Rattling cisticolas often share their homes with different Prinia birds.

How Do Rattling Cisticolas Behave?

Rattling cisticolas spend a lot of time calling out. This is especially true in the summer. They usually sit on top of a tree or bush to sing. Their call is loud and can sound like "chee-chee chichi-chirrrrr." However, each bird's call can be a little different.

Nesting and Reproduction

Rattling cisticola eggs can look different in color and spots.

Rattling cisticolas build their nests during the wet season. This is usually in spring and summer. They make a round nest using rough grass blades. Inside, they line it with soft plant material. This makes a cozy home for their eggs.

Different Kinds of Rattling Cisticolas

There are about seventeen different types, or subspecies, of the rattling cisticola. These groups look very similar but live in slightly different areas. For example, C. c. frater lives in Namibia. C. c. humilis is found in the highlands of Uganda and Kenya. Each subspecies has its own specific home region within Africa.

Images for kids

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  C. c. campestris in the Kruger National Park. You can see its black mouth when it sings.

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  This is the main type of rattling cisticola in Marakele National Park.

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  C. c. humilis in Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya.

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  C. c. smithersi in Matetsi Safari Area, Zimbabwe.