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The Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana) is a common, small, brownish African bird known for its loud, rattling song in savannas, feeding on insects and sometimes aloe nectar, nesting low in grass with a unique ball-shaped structure, and often living in monogamous pairs or cooperative groups that defend territories, making them key indicators of healthy open habitats.
Appearance & Size
Look: Grey-brown upperparts, buffy browner head, rusty tail, buffy underparts.
Size: Small, about 15 cm (6 inches) long, weighing around 15-16g.
Habitat & Diet
Habitat: Prefers open savannas, scrublands, and woodlands across Africa, from Ethiopia southwards.
Diet: Primarily insects (beetles, grasshoppers, ants), but also takes nectar from aloes.
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Behavior & Song
Vocalization: Famous for its distinctive, mechanical-sounding rattling trill, often preceded by "che" notes, used year-round.
Social: Usually seen in pairs or family groups; can be territorial.
Cooperative Breeding: Sometimes forms groups with unrelated males defending a territory together, a strategy for raising young.
Nest & Breeding
Nest: Unique ball or oval shape with a side entrance, woven from grass and spiderwebs, often low in grass or shrubs.
Eggs: Lays 2-5 eggs, incubated by the female for about 2 weeks.
Chicks: Fledge in about 13-15 days.
Conservation Status
IUCN Status: Least Concern, considered common and widespread in its range.
