Lover of shrub dotted rocky hill slopes in the higher rainfall areas to the east of South Africa, this relatively shy and, outside of the breeding season, vocally subdued cisticola, is more prinia than classic cisticola in general appearance and inquisitive disposition.

Lazy Cisticola

Encountered singly or occasionally in pairs, maintaining a low profile as it flits about mouse-like in thick vegetation, flirting its long prinia-like tail often carried vertical, can prove frustratingly difficult to see when not calling spontaneously from a favoured call site in the summer months.

Lazy Cisticola

If flushed, flies directly away quail-like to well-vegetated rocky cover to disappear in rodent style fashion. Separated by its well-defined white supercilium and secretive habits by comparison to the far more visually conspicuous Neddicky of similar size and characteristic monotonous onomatopoeic call emanating from a favoured openly exposed perch.

Lazy Cisticola

For more information and discussion of the birds found in Southern Africa, contact Patrick at patrick@avianleisure.com