Levaillant's Cisticola

Fascinating facts about the Levaillant's Cisticola

• Even though it sounds like a tiny bell, Levaillon's cisticola was first given the Latin name Malurus tinniens in 1842, with “tinniens” meaning “tinkling”. That same year another naturalist, Andrew Smith, called it Drymoica levallantii to honor François Levaillant, but today the original name has priority.
• At just 12–15 cm long, this bird fits on the tip of a ruler yet sports a striking reddish cap and a russet-brown tail that flashes when it hops among reeds. Its breeding plumage is a slate-grey back streaked with black, while non-breeding adults turn a browner shade and juveniles show yellower undersides. These subtle color shifts let observers track the bird’s life stage without ever needing a magnifying glass.
• Living only where water gathers, Levaillon's cisticola makes its home in reedbeds, sedges and rank grass that line rivers and dams across eastern Africa, from Kenya down to eastern South Africa.
• From August to October the bird builds a ball-shaped nest out of dry grass, spider silk and soft plant down, with a side entrance placed in a tuft of grass or weeds standing in, or hanging over water.
• Covering an estimated 1,400,000 km², the species occupies a large range, and its population is thought to be large; it is evaluated as least concern on the IUCN Red List.

At a glance

About the Levaillant's Cisticola

Levaillant's cisticola, a diminutive passerine measuring 12–15 cm, has breeding plumage that is grey streaked with black, with a rufous wing panel and a reddish cap above a light-brown eye. The tail is russet-brown and the short, straight bill is blackish-brown with a pinkish base. In the non-breeding season the bird has a browner back, and juveniles have yellower underparts. Its calls include a musical “chrip-trrrup-trreee”, a wailing “tee-tee-tee” and harsh alarm notes. It is a resident breeder from Kenya to eastern South Africa, inhabiting wet habitats such as reedbeds, sedges and tall grasses near rivers and dams. It is usually seen in pairs or small family groups, perching atop grass stems to call. Nesting occurs from August to October, with a ball-shaped nest of dry grass, cobwebs and felted plant down placed in a tuft of grass or weeds standing in, or hanging over, water.

More birds to discover

Browse Feravox