Cover image: Grey-backed Cisticola by Gregg Darling – St. Francis Bay Air Field, Eastern Cape

Cisticolas belong to the Family CISTICOLIDAE. This is a group of small passerine birds found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World and contains around 168 species divided into 26 genera. This family is thought to have originated in Africa, which is home to the majority of species, but members of the family can also be found in Europe, tropical Asia, and Australasia. They were formerly included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae.

Identification

The head of the Grey-backed Cisticola has an indistinct eyebrow and a dark rufous crown, merging to grey on the mantle. The back is grey to brownish grey with dark blackish streaks. The underparts are a paler, plain brownish grey. Southern populations have grey underparts with fine blackish streaking on the breast, belly and flanks. The tail is longish and dusky-brown with buff tips and a black subterminal band.

There is considerable variation in plumage with six subspecies in the region. Southern subspecies have grey upperparts streaked blackish, and finely streaked flanks. The northern subspecies are browner on the upperparts, and without streaking on the grey-buff underparts.

There is little seasonal variation in plumage and the sexes are alike. Immatures and juveniles are similar to the adults but are duller overall and with a yellowish wash to the underparts.

The Grey-backed Cisticola is usually the only ‘long-tailed’ cisticola within its range. It can be difficult to distinguish from the wailing cisticola (Cisticola lais) in the Eastern Cape, where the two species overlap slightly. The two species have similar calls, but are distinguished by different habitat requirements, and in the region of overlap, the Grey-backed Cisticola is grey ventrally whereas the Wailing Cisticola is buff-coloured. The Gey-backed Cisticola could also be confused with the Levaillant’s Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens), but that species has a more richly coloured crown and tail, as well as paler and whiter underparts.

Status and Distribution

The Grey-backed Cisticola is a locally common to very common resident and is near-endemic to southern Africa. It only extends beyond the sub region into southern Angola. It occurs from Namibia southwards to the Cape Peninsula, and eastwards through the Karoo to the south-western Free State and the Eastern Cape province. The northern population in Namibia appears to be well isolated from the southern populations.

The historical distribution is not known to have differed from its present range. The Grey-backed Cisticola is able to occupy a variety of scrubby habitats and can therefore tolerate some vegetational changes. It is able to persist in a highly fragmented landscape. The Grey-backed Cisticola is not threatened.

Habitat

The Grey-backed Cisticola occurs in a wide range of habitats where low scrub is present. These include coastal and montane fynbos, shrubby Karoo plains, grass and scrub covered hillsides, ravines in semi-arid areas, grass covered dunes and saline grassland near estuaries.

It is most numerous in the Succulent and Nama Karoo biomes, followed by the Fynbos biome.

Behaviour

Found singly, in pairs or family groups. The Grey-backed Cisticola is a fairly conspicuous species. The male makes distinctive display flights and calls from an exposed perch during the breeding season. It is frequently detected by its call, which can be heard throughout the year, but sings only in the breeding season.

The Grey-backed Cisticola forages low down in shrubs and among grass tufts, but often perches conspicuously on top of vegetation. This is especially so when alarmed or calling. The Grey-backed Cisticola feeds entirely on small insects like termites, beetles, beetle larvae, caterpillars, small grasshoppers, bugs and likely also spiders.

Breeding has been recorded between August and December. During courtship the male displays in bouncing flight over the female, while hovering and flicking his tail. The Grey-backed Cisticola is territorial and is a monogamous, solitary nester. The nest is a ball of dry grass and plant down with a side entrance. It is placed on or near the ground in a grass tuft or low shrub, with growing grass incorporated into the roof and sides. The nest is lined with soft plant down.

2 to 4 eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are laid at 1 day intervals and are whitish to pale greenish blue with reddish-brown and purplish spotting. Incubation begins upon completion of the clutch. Further details regarding incubation and the nestling period are unrecorded.

Further Resources

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Desire Darling, Gregg Darling, Itxaso Quintana, Johan and Estelle van Rooyen, Karis Daniel and Tino Herselman is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Red-headed Cisticola (Alt. English); Grysrugtinktinkie (Afrikaans); Cisticole à dos gris (French); Rotsgraszanger (Dutch); Bergzistensänger (German); Fuinha-de-dorso-cinzento (Portuguese).

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/03/26/grey-backed-cisticola-cisticola-subruficapilla/

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Bird identification, birding

Similar Species

Cover image: Chestnut-vented Warbler by Gerald Wingate – Klipheuwel district, Western Cape –  BirdPix No. 176803

Identification

The Chestnut-vented Warbler is easy to identify at all ages due to the distinctive chestnut vent. The crown and the rest of the upper parts are dull blue-grey to brownish grey. The forehead, ear coverts and sides of the neck are brownish grey. The chin and throat are white with bold black streaks. Underparts, including the breast and belly are grey. The vent and undertail coverts are bright chestnut and diagnostic. The tail is black with white tips. The eyes are white or cream coloured and the bill, legs and feet are blackish.

Juveniles resemble the adults but the vent is dull, not bright rufous and they have less distinct streaking on the throat.

The Chestnut-vented Warbler is most similar to the related Layard’s Warbler (Sylvia layardi). The latter is slightly paler, with finer streaking on the throat and a white (not chestnut) vent.

Status and Distribution

The Chestnut-vented Warbler is near-endemic to southern Africa, occurring elsewhere only in southern Angola and south-western Zambia. It is widespread in the drier western and central parts of southern Africa, but is absent from higher rainfall areas in the east and north-east of southern Africa. It is a common resident and is sedentary across its range.

The range of the Chestnut-vented Warbler is not known to have differed from the present, and is unlikely to have changed significantly. Although it is near-endemic, its wide distribution in the arid and semi-arid regions suggests that the species is unlikely to be under threat in the foreseeable future.

Habitat

The Chestnut-vented Warbler occurs in scrub and thickets, particularly along drainage lines. It has a preference for indigenous Vachellia (Acacia) thickets. In the Karoo it favours areas with taller bushes on plains and in drainage lines. It inhabits a range of vegetation types from thickets in open thornveld and savanna woodlands to bushy hillsides, semi-arid Karoo shrublands, as well as gardens on farms and in rural villages.

Behaviour

The Chestnut-vented Warbler is usually encountered solitarily or in pairs. It is a skulking species that is often unwilling to show itself in the open. However, it is not shy and is rather inquisitive.

They fly low from bush to bush and search for food by restlessly moving through the foliage and branches of trees and bushes. Food is gleaned from bare branches and occasionally from leaves. They will sometimes also hawk small insects in flight. The Chestnut-vented Warbler frequently utters its distinctive cheriktiktik call while foraging.

This species eats mainly invertebrates such as spiders, ticks, moths, mantids, small beetles, caterpillars and termites. Also consumes small berries when available, and nectar, especially of various Aloe species.

The Chestnut-vented Warbler breeds from August to April in southern Africa but varies somewhat from region to region due to rainfall. In drier areas, breeding is probably partly opportunistic after rain. The nest is a cup of dry grass, rootlets and spider web, lined with plant down and fibres. Nests are usually located 1.5 to 3m above the ground amongst the slender outer branches of a bush or tree, and often in a clump of mistletoe.

Two to four white eggs with greenish-brown to blue-grey blotching are laid per clutch. Incubation begins after the second egg has been laid, and incubation duties are shared by both sexes. The incubation period lasts from 13 to 16 days. Newly hatched young are altricial and the nestling period lasts for up to 15 days, during which time they are fed and cared for by both parents.

Broods of the Chestnut-vented Warbler are sometimes parasitised by the Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius), and less often by the Jacobin Cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus).

Further Resources

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Andrew Keys, Deon Van Der Hoven, Gerald Wingate, Gregg Darling, Jorrie Jordaan, Lance Robinson and Wiekus Moolman is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler, Titbabbler, Rufous-vented Warbler (Alt. English); Bosveldtjeriktik (Afrikaans); Parisome grignette (French); Kaapse Meeszanger (Dutch); Meisensänger (German); Felosa-chapim-dos-bosques (Portuguese).

A list of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Chestnut-vented Warbler Sylvia subcaeruleum. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/03/23/chestnut-vented-warbler-sylvia-subcaeruleum/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image: Grey Heron by Ryan Tippett– Zimanga Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal – BirdPix No. 22138

Identification

The Grey Heron is a large, conspicuous and easily identifiable species. The sexes are alike.

Adults in breeding plumage have a white head, nape, throat and neck. The fore neck has a series of black streaks that form a pair of lines ending at the breast. The eyebrow is black and broad, leading to plumes that form a lax crest. The back and tail pale are grey, and the upper wings are pale grey, with black shoulder patches. The underparts are pale greyish-white with pale grey plumes on the breast. The straight, pointed bill is orange-yellow and the eyes are dull yellow. The long legs are yellowish-brown. Non-breeding adults are similar but lack the plumes on the nape and breast.

In flight the Grey Heron is seen to have pale grey upper wings with black shoulder patches. From below the wings are uniform dark blueish-grey.

Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults, but are paler grey with less contrasting colours. The forehead and crown are dark grey and the nape is dull black and they have heavy, dark brown streaking on the throat. Immatures and juveniles also have duller bills with dark grey upper mandibles.

The Grey Heron most resembles the similarly sized Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala). Confusion is most likely between juveniles, but those of the Grey Heron are distinguished at all ages by the plain grey underwings. The underwings of the Black-headed Heron are contrasting black-and-white.

Status and Distribution

The Grey Heron is a common resident and local nomad. It is widespread across Eurasia and Africa. The range of the Grey Heron covers most of Africa (excluding the Sahara), Europe and Asia (including India, China, Japan and Indonesia). In Africa it is primarily a Palearctic migrant north of the equator, and a breeding resident to the south.

The Grey Heron occurs throughout most of southern Africa. It is is less common in the drier west where it concentrates at the coast and along major river systems and at isolated water bodies. It is absent from the very arid parts of Namibia, the Kalahari basin and some of the north-western parts of the Northern Cape due to a lack of surface water.

The Grey Heron is not threatened locally or globally. A regional range expansion probably occurred during the 20th century, helped by agricultural practices and the construction of artificial water bodies.

Habitat

The Grey Heron frequents shallow water bodies in all major habitat types. These include the marine intertidal zone, estuaries, lagoons, rivers, lakes, marshes and pans. It also common at man-made habitats like dams, canals, sewage works and salt works. It is sometimes also found in open grassland near water.

Behaviour

The Grey Heron is generally found singly or in small groups when hunting, but is colonial when breeding. They are commonly seen standing or wading in shallow water, but sometimes in water deep enough to partially submerge the body.

The Grey Heron is mostly active by day but will also hunt after dark, especially on moonlit nights. It often stands still for long periods while waiting for food to come to them. On occasion it dives for fish from a perch, submerging completely. When prey is sighted, it rapidly extends its neck and strikes, spearing or capturing prey with the bill. Prey is manipulated into a head-first position before being swallowed. Food items are swallowed by jerking the head back and rapidly opening and closing bill. Small items are swallowed alive, while larger prey is shaken or stabbed to death before swallowing. They will discard food items that are too large to swallow.

The Grey Heron is predatory and consumes a wide range of animal prey, with fish weighing up to 110 grams being preferred. They will also readily take frogs, large tadpoles, molluscs, crustaceans, worms, insects, turtle hatchlings, eels, snakes, lizards, small rodents and birds. Plant material is rarely eaten. The Grey Heron occasionally steals food from other species like cormorants and is itself a regular victim of kleptoparasitism by African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) and Grey-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus).

Grey Herons roosts singly or in groups, usually in trees and sometimes also on cliffs. It flies with the neck pulled into an ‘S’ shape with legs outstretched.

The Grey Heron has been recorded breeding throughout the year but mainly during the summer months. They usually nest colonially and often in mixed-species colonies with other herons, egrets, cormorants, African Darter and storks. They will sometimes also nest singly or in small groups.

The nest is a large platform of sticks, lined with grass and is usually placed in the fork of a tree over water. Nests are sometimes also built in reedbeds or rarely, on cliffs or on the ground. The nest is normally constructed by the female with nest material brought to her by the male. Two to four blueish-green eggs are laid per clutch. The incubation period lasts for up to 28 days and is performed by both sexes. The nestling period lasts for a further 30 days or so. Nestlings are fed and cared for by both parents and are able to fly after about 50 days. Juvenile birds become independent after 60 to 70 days.

Further Resources for the African Sacred Ibis

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Dave Rimmer, Derek Solomon, Fanie Rautenbach, Jean Hirons, Malcolm Robinson, Rene Navarro, Tino Herselman, Vaughan Jessnitz and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Bloureier (Afrikaans); uNokilonki (Zulu); Isikhwalimanzi (Xhosa); Blauwe Reiger (Dutch); Héron cendré (French); Graureiher (German); Garça-real (Portuguese)

A list of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/02/23/grey-heron-ardea-cinerea/

Bird identification, birding

Cover image: Western Cattle Egret by David Kennedy– Linyanti Swamps, Botswana – BirdPix No. 249235

The Western Cattle Egret is monotypic, meaning it lacks close relatives and has been placed in its own genus. They are not that closely related to other egrets.

Identification

The Western Cattle Egret is a conspicuous, largely all-white bird and is normally closely associated with cattle and large game animals.

It is the smallest of the white egrets and has a stocky build with a relatively short bill, neck and legs. They are all white when not breeding but develop buff-coloured plumes on the crown, mantle and breast. The bill colour varies from yellow to orange, and the legs are dull brownish to yellow. The sexes are alike.

Immature and juvenile birds are all-white and have black bills, legs and feet.

The Western Cattle Egret could be confused with the larger Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia), but that species is slimmer, with a longer-neck and a longer bill, and its lower legs are blackish, not yellowish. Little Egret differs from juvenile Western Cattle Egrets by having a more slender build and has black legs with bright yellow feet and a longer bill.

Status and Distribution

The Western Cattle Egret has a very wide distribution and is found throughout the warmer regions of the world. The species was historically confined to tropical Africa, Madagascar and south-east Asia but it has expanded its range dramatically during the 20th century. The Western Cattle Egret now occurs throughout Africa, across the Mediterranean region, India, southern Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and North and South America!

A global increase in cattle farming, coupled with high breeding rates and effective dispersal and migration strategies, have enabled the species to undergo one of the most remarkable range expansions and population increases of any bird.

During the late late 1800s the Western Cattle Egret first began spreading throughout Africa and reached southern Europe by 1950. African birds are believed to have dispersed across the Atlantic Ocean to north-eastern South America in the 1880’s, reaching Alaska by 1981. Its range expansion across Asia to Australia and New Zealand took place in the 1940’s.

The Cattle Egret is a very common resident or nomad and is found throughout southern Africa, but is sparse in the arid western regions. It is not threatened.

Habitat

The Cattle Egret inhabits open grassland, grassy savanna, floodplains, wetland fringes, semi-arid scrub, man-made pastures and agricultural lands. They are usually associated with large game mammals or domestic stock, especially cattle, buffalo and elephants. Western Cattle Egrets are also occasionally found on open seashores and avoid dense woodland, forest and desert. Roosts in trees or reedbeds in or near inland waters like marshes, rivers and dams..

Behaviour

Western Cattle Egrets are highly gregarious and are most often found in flocks of 10 to 20 birds. Birds usually gather in larger numbers at water in the late afternoon, before flying to their roosting site. They often roost communally with other water birds. In the morning they disperse up to 20 km away to its feeding grounds.

Typically hunts by walking steadily before either running forward to stab at prey, or standing crouched, with its neck swaying before striking. They may glean items from vegetation, or seize flushed prey in the air. Small food items are swallowed whole, larger ones are repeatedly pecked or washed in water before swallowing.

They will occasionally follow ploughs to seize disturbed invertebrates, but are far more often associated with mammals, ranging from cattle and other domestic livestock such as sheep and goats, to antelope, zebra, buffalo, rhinos and elephants.

They frequently perch on the backs of large mammals, particularly in tall grass, where visibility is poor.

Research has shown that by associating with mammals, and feeding on disturbed prey items, they obtain, on average, 37% more food than they would by foraging alone.

This egret’s diet consists largely of insects. Locusts and grasshoppers predominate, but a wide range of other invertebrates are consumed such as beetles, caterpillars, flies, spiders and earth worms. Ticks are also important in their diet and are mostly gleaned from vegetation but are sometimes also removed from large mammals. Vertebrates like frogs, tadpoles, fish, reptiles, small mammals, adult birds and nestlings are also eaten.

The Western Cattle Egret breeds throughout the year in South Africa. Breeding mainly takes place from August to February with a November/December peak in the summer rainfall regions. It breeds during winter in the winter rainfall region of the Western Cape.

It is a highly colonial breeder, often in mixed colonies with other species such as storks, herons, egrets, spoonbills and cormorants. The nest is a simple platform of sticks lined with leaves and grass. Nests are most frequently placed in trees but also in bushes or sometimes even on the ground.

Two to five eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are dull white, sometimes with a blueish tinge and usually with some reddish-brown spots. The incubation period lasts for around 29 days and incubation duties are shared by both parents. Chicks are altricial and the nestlings are ready to leave the nest after 14 to 21 days. The young birds are fed and cared for by both parents.

Further Resources for the Western Cattle Egret

Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.

The use of photographs by Cobus Elstadt, David Kennedy, Derek Solomon, Irene Brown, Karis Daniel, Les Underhill, Malcolm Robinson, Mark Stanton and Megan Loftie-Eaton is acknowledged.

Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).

Other common names: Cattle Egret (Alternative English Name); Veereier, Springkaanvoel (Afrikaans); iLanda (Zulu); Dzandza (Tswana); Koereiger (Dutch); Héron garde-boeufs (French); Kuhreiher (German); Garça-boieira (Portuguese)

List of bird species in this format is available here.

Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2024. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available online at https://thebdi.org/2024/02/19/western-cattle-egret-bubulcus-ibis/

Bird identification, birding