Whistling cisticola

The genus name, Cisticola, was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1829. Cisticola derives from Ancient Greek kisthos, “rock-rose”, and Latin colere, “to dwell”.[3]

The whistling cisticola is a mid-sized bird that has a body length of 13–16 cm with a male weight of 14-21 grams, and female weight of 12-19 grams. A breeding, male cisticola is described to have gray-brown cheeks and a sooty-brown crown and underparts. Its tail is also a gray-brown color with the main body being mostly dark brown, with hints of reddish-brown. Also, the majority of males consist of a white colored throat, black bill, and dull pink legs. When male cisticolas are non-breeding, they appear a more reddish-brown color, have a richer buff below, and a gray color on their breast. Female cisticolas often have paler feathers, a more brownish bill, and have a more slender body shape than males. Juveniles are more slender than adults and are washed yellow below. Their bills are brown with bits of yellow and some have bright red underparts. The antinorii race is a paler brown with a fluffier build, and no seasonal plumage changes. The modestus race is smaller in size and more red throughout its feathers, along with a gray-brown crown.[4]

This species has a large range and its population trend appears to be stable, hence it does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size or population trend criterion. The antinorii subspecies can be found from the Central African Republic to West Kenya, the lateralis from Senegambia to Nigeria and Cameroon, and the modestus from Gabon to North Angola and South Democratic Republic of Congo.[2]