- Cisticola erythrops
Identification
Length 14 cm, mass 15 g. Upperparts light olive grey, with a rusty buff forecrown and an indistinct pale eyebrow. The face is light rufous. In summer, creamy white below, and buff on the breast. In winter, the breast and throat are tawny (illustrated). The eyes are brown, the bill dark horn and the legs and feet pinkish. Most easily identified by the loud weet-weet-weet call-notes from its song.
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa; distribution patchy.
Taxonomy
There are six subspecies of Cisticola erythrops. The southern race, C. e. elusus, occurs in southern Mozambique, Zimbabwe, north-eastern and eastern South Africa, and Swaziland. C. e. nyasa occurs in Mozambique, northern (lowland) Zimbabwe, north-eastern Botswana, eastern Caprivi, eastern Angola, south-eastern Zambia, Malawi, and south-eastern Tanzania. Other subspecies are C. e. erythrops, C. e. sylvia, C. e. pyrrhomitra, and C. e. niloticus.
Habitat
Tall, rank vegetation (reedbeds, tall grass and weedy areas) in or near wetlands, and along streams and rivers.
Behaviour
Found singly, or in pairs or small groups; very vocal. Forages in the undergrowth for insects and other invertebrates.
