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
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Levaillant’s Cisticola
DeWetsWild 
Oooh cisticolas! Very noticeable and cute but I have not yet got it together to tell one species from t’other! Lovely photos, I especially like the second one in the gallery.
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!
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 … 😊
Those “LBJ’s” can and do cause you to pull the hair from your head in frustration!
So true. It is a great feeling (relief!) though to have a breakthrough and finally identify one of the species that has been such a puzzle.
Almost something to boast about!
😊
It’s name looks bigger than the bird. 😉
Very good point! 😀
Nee man is jy seker… die is ‘n gewone langstert mossie? 🙂
Die verskillende tinktinkies is so moeilik om uit te ken, Tina – ek dink jy het die oplossing!
What a beautiful little bird!
Most certainly, thanks Sue!
And that wing shot was fab…well done!
I’m very grateful for dumb luck!
😉
Thanks again, Sue!
😄😄
Aww, what a cutie! The header shot is just marvelous, luck or no luck. 🙂
janet
They’re really delightful little birds, and always on the move – glad I could get one shot showing that aspect!
I’m so glad you posted this: I referred to this cisticola in my entry about the Crested Barbet but have never photographed one. Lovely pictures as always.
Thank you very much, Anne!
The wing shot is marvelous!
Very, very lucky shot that!
Tinktinkies is altyd n plesier om te sien en te volg.
Net jammer hulle is so moeilik om uit te ken en af te neem!
Hul is beslis baie bedreiwige voëltjie, baie soos die Fan tail hierso. Hul is egter nogal astrant wees, en jou uitdaag om pad te gee.
Goeiste! Ek sal bietjie moet gaan kyk hoe lyk julle Fantail, Ineke.
good share