ML501698561
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age and sex
- Adult Male - 1
- Sounds
- Song
- Playback
- Not specified
Media notes
SASOL describes the RACI vocalization as "2-4 high-pitched notes followed by a lower-pitched trill." That's at least close to what we here in this clip.
Observation details
With the help of our ranger, Thomas, we encountered this species repeatedly. He knew its vocalizations, pointed them out to us, and helped us learn at least some of them. That alone was sufficient for reporting the bird with confidence. However, seeing the species well was a greater challenge. Nonetheless, we did see it, and I believe the photos uploaded show it. Still, with the Cisticola family, it's hard to be absolutely sure. We can make progress though. The task is made simpler by what eBird presents in the checklist for this location. First, there are only two other species in the Cisticolidae family that are listed as "Frequent" in this checklist. They are both distinctly marked and distinctively different from Rattling Cicticola: 1) the Yellow-breasted Apalis's yellow breast is present on both male and female birds; and 2) the Tawny-flanked Prinia has not only the tawny flanks, vent and undertail, but also a clear black eyeline and bright white eyestripe. The Rattling Cisticola is plain faced and has no yellow on it. As to eBird's "Infrequent" species at this location, there are only two in the Cisticolidae family: Zitting Cisticola and Yellow-bellied Eremomela. But these two are also distinctly different from the Rattling Cisticola, a bird that does not have a yellow belly, and has a plain rufous crown that is clearly different from the brown (not reddish brown) and obviously streaked head of the Zitting Cisticola. Also, the Zitting's simple and unvarying call is quite different from what we heard from our bird. That leaves us with eBird's list of Cisticolidae family species "Not Reported" at the present location. There are so many -- I believe over 20 -- that I will not attempt to go through them here. But again, eBird lists them as "Not Reported." So already the photo ID has gone from uncertain to one a person can be reasonably confident of. Other likely, or at least fairly possible, species have been ruled out. And positively, we see a bird with the following features: an unstreaked rufous crown, a plain face without dark or rufous ear coverts, dark eyes, apparently a thin bill, unstreaked light gray underparts, dark upperparts (insofar as we can see them), pink legs and feet, and a graduated tail. These features match well with those of Rattling Cisticola. I may add a recording of its vocalization later.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 1.24 MB