[rubberbob]

Hi,

Can anyone help out with identifying this bird which was photographed on the slopes leading into the Rift Valley to the Northwest of Nairobi, Kenya. The photo was taken in March last year. We were thinking female black-headed Apalis.

Cheers

[bitterntwisted]

Not a bird or an area I know, but I have a hunch this is Hunter's Cisticola.

Graham

[joshjenkinsshaw]

I'd also go for Hunter's Cisticola.

[rubberbob]

Thanks for your thoughts Graham. I'll be reviewing the available literature again.

[Tib78]

Hi all,

This is not a Hunter's cisticola: the back is too plain (Hunter's usually shows some faint streaks on the mantle + the paler fringes to the tertials and some wing coverts enhanced the streak-backed impression); the wing shows an obvious rufous pannel (absent in Hunter's). The crown of Hunter's is normally duller as well.

Combination of rufous wing pannel; rufous crown and dark lores is typical of Singing cisticola.

Singing cisticola:http://www.charliesbirdblog.com/~cha...ng_cist_02.jpg

Hunter's cisticola:http://www.tanzaniabirds.net/African...006_12_09a.jpg

[MarcellC]

Hi

Tib; I agree with you on everything about the Singing Cisticola, just one question though. The bird photographed in this thread has black and white along the side-edges of the tail - I don't see this in any of the books I have and the bird in your link also has a plain tail.

Possibly light from the way the photo was taken or does this actually occur in some cases of Singing Cist?

Cheers

[Tib78]

Hi Marcell,

Those white spots to the tail sides are normal. Many cisticolas (including Singing C.) have some white (or light buff) spots on the rectrices tips. When the tail is held closed, the white spots are difficult to see, but when the bird fans its tail, then they become obvious.
The lack of white spots to the central rectrices of the subject bird is due to abrasion, and I also think the bird is moulting its rectrices: some of them look like they are growing, that's why some white spots appear to be so close to the tail base. The fact that the central rectrices are very worn support this " scenario".

[B&G]

hello
I can't also settle for any other than the Hunter's cisticola

Moses -Birding club of lake baringo,kenya

[joseph mwangi]

Hi every one,
There is no doubt that this is a singing cisticola and there is nothing close to Hunter's. Hunters has a black lore coming from the bill towards the eye. Singing has a red/brown crown as well a very big brown along the edges of primaries. and a very plain grey back.

cheers
Joseph
http://www.natureswonderlandsafaris.com

[MarcellC]

Hi Tib

Thanks for that explanation - just learnt something new again :)