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Singing Cisticola | Cisticola cantans
The Singing Cisticola is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Cisticolidae bird family group which includes birds such as African Warblers. The description for the Singing Cisticola (Latin name Cisticola cantans) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Cisticola cantans can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 673 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 825. You will find a picture of the Singing Cisticola on page 865. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Singing Cisticola between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Singing Cisticola has a height of 14 cms and weighs around 13 gms. The head is coloured brown while the bill is coloured black. The Cisticola cantans has a white coloured throat, brown legs and a grey, brown coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is brown Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are brown Throat is white Back is grey, brown Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Singing Cisticola is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 to 4 eggs and they are coloured green. The bird builds its nest on the ground with figs, straw and leaves. The nest is placed under a bush to protect the young from predators. The bird is mainly found in the Savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds. This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Singing Cisticola is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks |
