Rattling cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

(Photo from Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rattling cisticola (en); fuinha-chocalheira (pt); cisticole grinçante (fr); cistícola cascabel (es); rotscheitel-zistenänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Ethiopia south to D.R. Congo, Tanzania, Angola, Zambia and Mozambique, and into northern Namibia, Botswana and north-eastern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and weigh 10-21 g.

Habitat:
The rattling cisticola is mostly found in dry grasslands and savannas, particularly in reas dominated by Acacia, but also use dry scrublands, old plantations, rural gardens and arable land. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on various insects and other small invertebrates, including beetles, termite alates,  grasshoppers, flies, ants, caterpillars and snails. They are also known to take nectar from Aloe plants.

Breeding:
Rattling cisticolas breed in October-April. The nest is an oval or ball shaped structure with a side entrance, made of dry grass secured with spider webs. It is typically attached with spider web to a grass tuft, shrub, Acacia sapling or to the foliage of a fallen branch, usually up to 1.2 m above the ground. there the female lays 2-5 eggs which she incubates alone for 13-14 days. The chicks fledge 13-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common to abundant, with wide variations in abundance across its range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Cricket longtail

Spiloptila clamans

Photo by Patrick Bergier (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
cricket longtail (en); fuinha-de-cauda-branca (pt); prinia à front écailleux (fr); prinia charlatana (es); schuppenkopfprinie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found along a narrow belt in the Sahel, immediately south of the Sahara desert, from southern Mauritania and northern Senegal, through central Mali, southern Niger, northern Nigeria, central Chad, and into southern Sudan and Eritrea.

Size:
These birds are 11-12 cm long and weigh 6-8 g.

Habitat:
The cricket longtail is found in arid and semi-arid savannas and scrublands, mainly Acacia.

Diet:
The forage on the vegetation and on the ground, mainly taking insects.

Breeding:
Cricket longtails breed in June-April, usually after rainfall. They are probably monogamous and the nest is a domed structure with a small entrance near the top, made of grass, hair and plant down, and lined with finer grass and plant down. It is placed either on a thick tussock of coarse grass or near the base of an Acacia, up to 0,5 m above the ground. The female lays about 4 pale blue eggs with sparse, tiny reddish-brown spots. There is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common, although uncommon in some areas. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Karoo prinia

Prinia maculosa

Photo by Martin Flack (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Karoo prinia (en); fuinha-malhada (pt); prinia du Karoo (fr); prinia del Karoo (es); fleckenprinie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in South Africa, as far north as Lesotho and Bloemfontein, and into Namibia.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and weigh 7-11 g.

Habitat:
The Karoo prinia is mostly found in dry scrublands such as fynbos, Karoo scrub and renosterveld, but also use dry savannas, the edges of dry tropical forests, rural gardens and arable land.

Diet:
They feed on various small insects, including caterpillars, beetles, bugs, grasshoppers and flies, also being known to take skinks.

Breeding:
Karoo prinias breed in July-January, with a peak in August-November. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of an oval or pear shaped structure with a side entrance, made of woven grass and lined with plant down or wool. It is typically concealed it in a tuft of spiny grass, a sapling or scrub. There the female lays 1-5 eggs which she incubates alone for 11-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-14 days after hatching. Each pair usually raises 2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as common to abundant. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to potentially increasing grazing pressure

Siffling cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Photo by David Beadle (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
siffling cisticola (en); fuinha-de-asa-curta (pt); cisticole à ailes courtes (fr); cistícola alicorto (es); kurzflügel-zistensänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Angola, Zambia and southern Mozambique. They are mostly absent from the Congo river basin.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 6-11 g.

Habitat:
The siffling cisticola is mostly found in dry savannas and woodlands, particularly miombo Brachystegia, but also uses scrublands, moist tropical forests, vegetation along drainage lines and marshes, and edges of cultivated areas.

Diet:
They forage on the ground or in grass tufts, mainly taking insects such as termites, grasshoppers, beetles and bugs.

Breeding:
Siffling cisticolas breed in November-April. The nest is a compact sphere with a side entrance, made of dry grass and leaves reinforced with spider webs. It is typically placed very near the ground in a grass tuft or small scrub. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for about 14 days. the chicks fledge about 17 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, it is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Grey-capped warbler

Eminia lepida

Photo by Antti Seelaff (Flickr)

Common name:
grey-capped warbler (en); fuinha-de-barrete-cinzento (pt); éminie à calotte grise (fr); eminia (es); eminie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This African species is found from southern South Sudan and extreme north-eastern D.R.Congo, through Uganda and south-western Kenya, and into Burundi, Rwanda and northern Tanzania.

Size:
These birds are 13-14 cm long and weigh 18-20 g.

Habitat:
The grey-capped warbler is mostly found in moist tropical scrublands, also using the undergrowth of moist tropical forests and rural gardens. they favour areas near rivers, streams or waterfalls.

Diet:
They are insectivorous.

Breeding:
Grey-capped warblers nest in a cup made of plant fibres, where the female lays 2-3 eggs. The eggs are incubated for 12-13 days and the chicks fledge 16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is reported to be rare to common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Oriole warbler

Hypergerus atriceps

Photo by Steve Garvie (Wikipedia)

Common name:
oriole warbler (en); fuinha-de-cabeça-preta (pt); noircap loriot (fr); prinia oropéndola (es); pirolsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in West Africa, from southern Senegal to Cameroon and northern D.R. Congo.

Size:
These birds are 19 cm long and weigh about 30 g.

Habitat:
The oriole warbler is mostly found in dense understorey of moist tropical forests and in dense scrublands, usually near rivers and streams. They also use mangroves, dry tropical forests and plantations.

Diet:
They are insectivorous.

Breeding:
Oriole warblers are monogamous. The nest is a large ball-shaped structure with a side entrance near the top and a overhanging porch. It is made of grasses and other plant materials and suspended from a thin branch, palm frond or creeper, usually over water. The female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated for 14 days. The chicks fledge 12 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be rare to common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Tinkling cisticola

Cisticola rufilatus

Photo by Lindsay Hansch (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
tinkling cisticola (en); fuinha-rabirruiva (pt); cisticole grise (fr); cistícola gris (es); rotschwanz-zistensänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in Africa, from Gabon and Congo, through Angola and southern D.R. Congo and into Mozambique, Zimbabwe, north-eastern Namibia, Botswana and northern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 12-13 cm long and weigh 14 g.

Habitat:
The tinkling cisticola is mostly found in dry tropical forests and savannas, but also in sry scrublands and arable land.

Diet:
They feed on insects.

Breeding:
Tinkling cisticolas breed in October-March. The nest in an oval or ball-shaped structure, made of dry grass and rootlets and reinforced with spider webs. It is lined with plant down and typically placed near ground level in a grass tuft, herb or scrub. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 12-13 day after hatching, but only become fully independent 1 month later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Streaked scrub-warbler

Scotocerca inquieta

(Photo from Salidún)

Common name:
streaked scrub-warbler (en); fuinha-dos-espinheiros (pt); dromoïque vif-argent (fr); prinia desértica (es); wüstenprinie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found from northern Mauritania and Morocco, through Algeria, Lybia and Egypt, and into the Arabian Peninsula and near Asia as far east as Pakistan and Afghanistan and as far north as southern Kazakhstan.

Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 6-10 g.

Habitat:
The streaked scrub-warbler is found in arid scrublands and grasslands, sandy deserts with scattered low scrubs, sandy woodlands, dry savannas and rocky slopes. They are commonly found in oasis and other freshwater springs within arid areas. This species is present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.500 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other arthropods, namely beetles, caterpillars and larvae.

Breeding:
Streaked scrub-warblers breed in January-June. The nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a domed structure made of twigs, grasses and other plant material, lined with feather, hair and wool. The nest is typically placed within dense thorny scrubs. The female lays 2-5 white or pinkish-white eggs with small reddish markings, which are incubated for 13-15 days. The chicks fledge about 14 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be scarce to locally common. The population is estimated to be in decline following a recorded decrease in Israel in the 1980s, probably owing to habitat loss.

Bar-throated apalis

Apalis thoracica

(Photo from Hermanus Bird Club)

Common name:
bar-throated apalis (en); apalis-de-coleira (pt); apalis à collier (fr); apalis de garganta barreada (es); halsband-feinsänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in eastern and southern Africa, from southern Kenya, through Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and into eastern and southern South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 11-13 cm long and weigh 12 g.

Habitat:
The bar-throated apalis is found in tropical moist forests and scrublands, but also second growths, riparian forests, dry scrublands around sand dunes, grasslands, rural gardens and plantations.

Diet:
They mainly eat invertebrates gleaned from leaves and twigs, such as caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers, bugs and spiders, supplemented with fruits and flowers.

Breeding:
Bar-throated apalises breed in August-March. The nest is an oval ball with a side entrance, made of fine grasses, moss, lichens and rootlets, secured with spider web. It is typically placed among the foliage of scrub, sapling or creeper, 1-3 m above ground. The female lays 2-4  bluish-white eggs with reddish-brown spots, which are incubated by both parents for 14-18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-18 days after hatching, but only become independent some time later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common in most areas. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Golden-headed cisticola

Cisticola exilis

Photo by Julian Robinson (Canberra Ornithologists Group)

Common name:
golden-headed cisticola (en); fuinha-de-cabeça-dourada (pt); cisticole à couronne dorée (fr); buitrón de capa dorada (es); goldkopf-cistensänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in eastern and northern Australia, through Papua-New Guinea and Indonesia and into southern Asia as far north as and as far west as southern India.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh around 10 g.

Habitat:
The golden-headed cisticola is found in sub-coastal areas, including wetlands, swamp margins, grasslands, scrublands, savannas, rivers, and irrigated farmland.

Diet:
They mainly feed on insects, taken from the ground or from tall grasses and scrubs, but will also eat grass seeds.

Breeding:
In Australia the golden-headed cisticola breeds in September-March. The nest is a rounded structure with a side entrance near the top, built by both sexes by sewing together living leaves, using fine grasses, plant down and spider webs. The female lays 3-4 eggs, which she incubates alone, but there is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common.
The population is estimated to be increasing following recorded range expansions owing to forest clearance and agricultural development.

Red-faced cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

(Photo from Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
red-faced cisticola (en); fuinha-de-faces-vermelhas (pt); cisticole à face rousse (fr); buitrón de cara roja (es); rotgesicht-cistensänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, from Mauritania, across west and central Africa into Ethiopia and south to Angola in western Africa and south to Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa in eastern Africa.

Size:
These birds are 14 cm long and weigh around 15 g.

Habitat:
The red-faced cisticola is found in marshes, bogs, swamps, wet grasslands, scrublands, riverine thickets and also in rural gardens. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.400 m.

Diet:
They forage in the vegetation, taking various insects such as beetles, flies, ants and termite alates.

Breeding:
Red-faced cisticolas breed in October-March. The nest is an oval-shaped structure with a side entrance, made of leaves and dry grasses secured with spider web, with an outer shell of living leaves. It is typically incorporated into the foliage of a herb, scrub, forb or small tree, usually less than half a metre above ground. There the female lays 2-4 white or light grey eggs with reddish blotches, which she mainly incubates alone for 12-16 days. The chicks are brooded and fed by the female, while the male brings the food, fledging 14-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Winding cisticola

Cisticola galactotes

Photo by Hugh Chittenden (Bird Info)

Common name:
winding cisticola (en); fuinha-de-dorso-preto (pt); cisticole roussâtre (fr); buitrón musical (es); schwarzrücken-cistensänger (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae


Range:
This African species is found from Senegal to Sudan and Ethiopia and south to Angola, northern Namibia and Botswana, Mozambique and north-eastern South Africa.


Size:
These birds are 11-15 cm long and weigh 10-15 g.


Habitat:
Winding cisticolas are mostly found in marshes, bogs, swamps and seasonally flooded grasslands, but also occur in scrublands, dry savannas, plantations and arable land.


Diet:
They are insectivorous, mostly taking crickets, grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. They are also known to eat seeds.


Breeding:
The winding cisticola breeds in September-February. They are monogamous and territorial, nesting in an oval or ball shaped structure with a side entrance, woven with dry grasses and living grass blades. The nest is lined with plant down and grass inflorescences and placed in a marsh near the water surface, amongst grass or reeds up to about 1,2 m above the ground. The female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 12-19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-17 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Ashy prinia

Prinia socialis

Photo by J.M. Garg (Wikipedia)

Common name:
ashy prinia (en); fuinha-cinzenta (pt); prinia cendrée (fr); prinia ahumada (de); rostbauchprinie (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae


Range:
This species is found across India and in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and western Myanmar.


Size:
These birds are 13-14 cm long and weigh 7-10 g.


Habitat:
The ashy prinia is found in dry open grasslands, in open woodland, scrublands and in urban parks and gardens. They can also be found in mangroves, agricultural areas and various wetlands.


Diet:
They eat various insects.


Breeding:
Ashy prinias can breed all year round, but mostly after the monsoons. They are believed to be monogamous. The nest is made by stitching leaves together with webs and hair, and placed close to the ground in a scrub or tall grass. The female lays 3-5 brick-red or chestnut eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 12 days. The chicks are fed by both parents.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is reported to be locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Green-backed camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Photo by Trevor Hardaker (Biodiversity Explorer) 

Common name:
green-backed camaroptera (en); felosa-de-dorso-verde (pt); camaroptère à tête gris (fr); camaroptera de lomo verde (es); grünrücken-camaroptera (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae


Range:
These birds are found across much of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.


Size:
Green-backed camaropteras are 11,5-13 cm long and weigh 10-11 g.


Habitat:
They are generally found in dry scrublands and in areas of riparian vegetation within savanna woodlands. They also occur along forest edges and in parks and gardens. This species is present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.200 m.


Diet:
These birds forage low in the undergrowth or on the ground, taking various insects including bugs, beetles, flies, locusts, ants and butterflies.


Breeding:
They breed in October April. The nest is a globular structure with an entrance near the top, which they build by sewing together living leaves. The nest is concealed in a scrub, very close to the ground. The female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 13-15 days after hatching, but remain with the parents for a few more weeks.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common to abundant in many areas. The population is believed to be increasing following recorded local increases owing to the spread of invasive alien plants and ongoing deforestation.

Yellow-breasted apalis

Apalis flavida

Photo by Trevor Hardaker (Trevor and Margaret Hardaker)

Common name:

yellow-breasted apalis (en); apalis-de-peito-amarelo (pt); apalis à gorge jaune (fr); apalis de pecho amarillo (es); gelbbrust-feinsänger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Cisticolidae

Range:

This African species is patchily distributed from Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia, and through Tanzania down to Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

Size:

The yellow-breasted apalis is 12 cm long and weighs 8-9 g.

Habitat:

These birds are found in dry scrublands as well as in a variety of wooded habitats, including evergreen forests, arid riverine forests, Acacia and mopane savannas and even mangroves. They are found at altitudes of 150-2.200 m.

Diet:

The yellow-breasted apalis mostly gleans insects from the foliage of the canopy, taking cetoniid beetles, grasshopper nymphs, ants, mantids, scale insects and caterpillars. They also eat fruits and sometimes the nectar of the mountain aloe Aloe marlothii.

Breeding:

These birds breed in October-March. The nest is an oval ball with a side entrance, made of grass, bark, tendrils, dead leaves, lichen, flowers and seed pods, although it is sometimes constructed entirely of lichen. It is typically placed in a tree or shrub, often near Usnea lichens. There the female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for 12-14 days. The chicks are cared for by both adults, fledging 15-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the yellow-breasted apalis is described as common. The population is estimated to be increasing following a recorded range expansion in Gambia.

Graceful prinia

Prinia gracilis

Photo by Rajiv Lather (Birding in India and South Asia)

Common name:

graceful prinia (en); fuinha-elegante (pt); prinia gracile (fr); prinia graciosa (es); streifenprinie (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Cisticolidae

Range:

This species is a resident breeder in north-eastern Africa and south-west Asia, from Egypt and Somalia, through the Middle East and Turkey, and into Pakistan and northern India.

Size:

Graceful prinias are 10-11 cm long and have a wingspan of 12-13 cm. They weigh 6,5-7,5 g.

Habitat:

This species breeds in dry and wet areas of bushes and tall grass, and often on the banks of rivers, ponds and ditches. They use cultivated areas as well as dense undergrowth, tamarisk, reeds and rushes.

Diet:

The graceful prinia is mostly insectivorous, taking insects and caterpillars from the ground, foliage or in flight. They often feed grasshoppers to fledglings.

Breeding:

These birds mostly breed in March-July. They build an oval dome-shaped structure made of dry grasses, leaves, strips of bark, rootlets, and occasionally, cobwebs, lined with finer materials. The nest is placed on the ground within low vegetation or bushes. The female lays 3-5 very light pink eggs with reddish brown spots, which are incubated by both parents for 11-13 days. The chicks are mostly fed by the male, while the female is already preparing for another brood. The chicks fledge 13-14 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the European population, in Turkey, equates to 3.000-12.000 individuals and represents less than 5% of its range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Zitting cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Common name:

zitting cisticola (en); fuinha-dos-juncos (pt); cisticole des joncs (fr); buitrón (es); cistensänger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Cisticolidae

Range:

This species has a very wide breeding range, from southern Europe and North Africa, across Africa all the way to South Africa, along southern Asia and into northern Australia.

Size:

These small passerines are 10-12 cm long and have a wingspan of 12-14 cm. They weigh 8-12 g.

Habitat:

Zitting cisticolas are common in both open and seasonally flooded grasslands, in grassy wetlands with little or no drainage and in a variety of man-made habitats, including agricultural fields, golf courses and gardens.

Diet:

These insectivores eat a variety of invertebrates, which they glean from the bases of grass tufts and the bare soil. Their prey include grasshoppers, mantids, dragonflies, moths and caterpillars, mayflies, aphids, weevils, ants, spiders and snails.

Breeding:

The zitting cisticola breeds in April-September. The males are serially monogamous, mating with up to 11 females in a year. The male builds a show nest close to the ground and signals to females by singing. After copulating with the male, each female builds the real nest, a pear-shaped bag, constructed by weaving and sewing plant fibers and spider webs. The female lays 2-6 eggs which she incubates alone for 11-15 days. The chicks are mainly fed by the female, fledging 11-15 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range. Although the global population size is yet to be quantified, the European population alone includes 690.000-3.300.000 individuals, and represents less than 5% of their global range. The population is believed to be increasing and expanding in range.

Rufous-eared warbler

Malcorus pectoralis

Photo by Alastair Rae (Wikipedia)

Common name:

rufous-eared warbler (en); felosa-de-faces-ruivas (pt); prinia à joues rousses (fr); prinia carirrufa (es); rotohrsänger (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Cisticolidae

Range:

This South African species is found in Namibia, southern Botswana and throughout South Africa.

Size:

Rufous-eared warblers are 16 cm long and weigh around 10 g.

Habitat:

This species is found in lowland scrublands and dry grasslands, including some areas in the Kalahari desert.

Diet:

The rufous-eared warbler mainly eats invertebrates supplemented with small fruit and seeds. They often glean prey from the stems and leaves, taking Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, termites, ants, spiders and ticks.

Breeding:

This species breeds all year round, but it generally prefers to lay eggs after periods of rainfall. The nest is an untidy oval shape with a side-top entrance, built of grey grass leaves and stems, or alternatively from strips of milkweed (Asclepias buchenaviana), reinforced with spider web and lined with plant down. It is typically placed up to 1 m above ground in a bush or shrub, such as driedoring (Rhigozum trichotomum), doringvygie (Ruschia spinosa) and bloubrakbossie (Galenia fruticosa). The female lays 2-4 eggs which are incubated for 12-13 days. The chicks are fed by both parents, fledging after 11-13 days.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

Although the global population size has not been quantified, the species is described as common throughout its large breeding range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.