Cisticola aberrans
The Rock-loving Cisticola (Cisticola aberrans) is a charmingly secretive songbird, typically measuring 13-15 cm (5.1-5.9 in) in length and weighing around 10-15 grams. It sports a distinctive rufous-brown back and rump, lacking the streaking common to many of its cisticola relatives, complemented by pale, buffy-white underparts and a short, often cocked rufous-brown tail. Its head is usually greyish, sometimes with a faint pale supercilium. This species belongs to the family Cisticolidae, a d...
Found primarily on rocky hillsides, boulder-strewn slopes, and in sparse woodland with scrub, often near streams or ravines, typically at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2,500 meters (and occasionally higher).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small insects such as beetles, ants, caterpillars, and grasshoppers, as well as spiders and other small invertebrates, which it gleans from rocks and low vegetation.
This diurnal cisticola is generally shy and secretive, often remaining hidden among rocks and dense vegetation, though males will sing from exposed perches. It forages by creeping and hopping deftly among boulders, low bushes, and grasses, gleaning small insects and invertebrates. Males are highl...
The Rock-loving Cisticola is a widespread resident breeder across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Its extensive range stretches from Sierra Leone in West Africa, eastward through parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Sudan, then south through the highlands of Ethiopia, Kenya, Ugan...
Least Concern
- Its common name, 'Rock-loving Cisticola', perfectly describes its unique habitat preference for rocky terrain, setting it apart from many grassland-dwelling cisticolas. - Unlike most Cisticola species that feature streaked plumage, the Rock-loving Cisticola boasts an unstreaked rufous-brown bac...