Wailing Cisticola

The wailing cisticola, known scientifically as Cisticola lais, is a small passerine bird belonging to the family Cisticolidae.

Identification Tips

This species exhibits the typical cisticola appearance with a compact body, short tail, and a fine bill. It is characterized by its streaked appearance and a distinctive wailing call that gives it its name.

Habitat

The wailing cisticola is a bird of the highlands, favoring subtropical or tropical high-altitude grasslands where it can be seen flitting about in its natural environment.

Distribution

The bird's range extends across various countries in Africa, including Angola, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Behaviour

Observations of the wailing cisticola reveal a bird that is well-adapted to its grassland habitat, often seen perched atop vegetation.

Song & calls

The species is named for its distinctive call, which resembles a plaintive wail, a sound that carries across the grasslands and is a key characteristic for identification.

Similar Species

Lynes's cisticola, found in Uganda, Kenya, and northern Tanzania, is sometimes considered a subspecies of the wailing cisticola, indicating a close resemblance between the two.

Conservation status

The wailing cisticola is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, suggesting that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population levels.