Namibia - What to do about Cisticolas (1 Viewer)

[Jacob12]

Here in Windhoek, SASOL says there are 4 types of cisticolas: Zitting and Desert (short-tailed group), and Rattling and Tinkling (streak-backed group). The illustrations look different enough, but when I go into the sample photographs to quiz myself its like 4 of the same bird.

Below are two individuals (1), (2-3) from Avis Dam in Windhoek. Both Desert and Rattling are common at the site, with Zitting being less common and Tinkling being rare.

I think the individual in pics 2-3 may be Rattling due to the decurved bill, relatively long tail, and weak supercilium. I think the individual in picture 1 is Zitting/Desert


Does anyone have advice for photographing cisticolas for ID purposes? Do I need to try to record audio each time I see one to be more sure of IDs?

 

[Butty]

Or you could do what I do... walk away from them and go look for some worthwhile birds
1. Seems to show some contrasting black on tail-tip which might favour zitting cisticola.
2-3. I would agree with rattling cisticola for the reasons you give - but it doesn't have black tail-tip, which yours does have. Or do upper- and undersides of tail-tip differ? No idea. You may perhaps have also to consider grey-backed cisticola.
Have you got the Chamberlain's LBJs book/ebook? I don't know it, but I assume it helps a lot with this stuff.