Cisticola lais
The Wailing Cisticola (*Cisticola lais*) is a small, enigmatic songbird, characteristic of the montane grasslands of southern and eastern Africa. Measuring approximately 12-14 cm in length and weighing a mere 8-12g, it sports a rufous cap, heavily streaked brown upperparts, and plain buffy underparts, often with a pale supercilium. Its most distinctive field mark, however, is its melancholic, descending 'wailing' call, which gives the species its common name. Taxonomically, it belongs to the ...
Found primarily in montane grasslands, fynbos, and rocky slopes with scattered scrub, typically at elevations between 1200m and 2800m, often in moist or misty conditions.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small insects and their larvae, including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and spiders, gleaned from vegetation.
The Wailing Cisticola is a diurnal and restless bird, spending its days actively foraging low within dense grass and scrub. Males are highly territorial, defending their breeding patches with conspicuous aerial displays where they ascend, sing their characteristic 'wail,' and then parachute back ...
The Wailing Cisticola boasts a widespread, though fragmented, distribution across eastern and southern Africa. Its primary range includes the eastern and southern parts of South Africa, covering provinces like Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo, extending into Lesotho and Eswati...
Least Concern
- The Wailing Cisticola is named entirely for its distinctive, mournful, descending 'wailing' call, making it one of the most aptly named birds. - Identifying cisticolas visually can be notoriously difficult due to their similar appearances, making the Wailing Cisticola's unique song an invaluabl...