Rattling cisticola

The rattling cisticola is a delightful little bird native to Africa, found south of the equator and in parts of East Africa. You are likely to spot this bird in open savannas and scrublands, especially during the summer when its distinctive call fills the air. Its range covers several countries, including Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The rattling cisticola favors arid, mesic, or moist savannas and woodlands, typically those populated with thorn trees or shrubs. It is also commonly found in miombo and mopane woodlands, as well as in the Eastern Highlands and East African uplands. During the wet season, it becomes industrious, building ball-shaped nests from coarse grass blades, lined with finer plant materials.

One of the bird's most notable characteristics is its call, which sounds like "chee-chee chichi-chirrrrr." It is often heard calling from high perches, making it a familiar sound in its habitat. There are seventeen recognized subspecies of the rattling cisticola, each inhabiting different regions of Africa.