Levaillant’s Cisticola

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Cisticola tinniens

The tiny (11g) Levaillant’s cisticola inhabits wetlands, marshes, reedbeds and open grassland with rank growth. It feeds on small invertebrates.

Levaillant’s Cisticolas are usually seen singly, in pairs or small family groups and breed throughout the year. Their nests are built of grass in the shape of a ball with a small side entrance in thick grass in or over water. Clutches contain 2-5 eggs and are incubated for 2 weeks, with the chicks fledging more or less the same length of time after hatching.

Levaillant’s Cisticola occurs patchily over east, central and southern Africa, and is considered as being of least concern by the IUCN. With the exception of the arid west of the country they are found over most of the rest of South Africa.

Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola

27 thoughts on “Levaillant’s Cisticola”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you, Carol! I also have great difficulty telling the different kinds apart and have to rely on a combination of calls, habitat and distribution to try and decipher which is which. I hope with lots of practice it will get easier one day!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. naturebackin

        Yes it does take some practice and taking the trouble to learn. Familiarity with the calls helps a lot. I have a similar problem with larks not forgetting prinias … 😊

        Liked by 1 person

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