Grey-backed Cisticola
The Grey-backed Cisticola (Cisticola subruficapilla) is a near endemic to Southern Africa. It is found in the Cape & Karoo regions of South Africa, (where it is common in suitable habitat) & an isolated uncommon population in central Namibia. Some authorities refer to this species as the Red-headed Cisticola.
There are seven subspecies. All of these photographs are of the C.s. subruficapilla race. It is quite common along the coast in lowland fynbos & strandveld vegetation. It has also adapted well to the edge of exotic thickets of which there are plenty in the Cape region. It reaches high in the mountains (provided fynbos vegetation is present) & in these habitats is found alongside the Piping Cisticola (Cisticola fulvicapilla), formerly known as Neddicky.
It is a small cisticola, with a weak fluttering flight, often flitting from bush to bush, can be very confiding & responds well to phishing. It has a longish tail & a weak looking, slightly downward curved bill. The plumage is variable among the races, but in the south-west it is grey both above & below. In the Cape region birds show dark weak breast streaking.
the extreme south-western race.
It has a dull rufous brown crown, rufous wing panel & tail. The above individual is singing from a low bush & this is typical of the species. However, they can also have a short song flight, rising up to around ten meters & descending in a series of jerks to land back on top of a bush.
with several black lateral bars.
heavily streaked black.
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