Pectoral-patch Cisticola (Cisticola brunnescens hindii) - 8 July 2013. Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha Region, Tanzania.





Cisticolas are a large group of cryptic old-world warblers currently placed in their own family, the Cisticolidae.

These little short-tailed birds were very common on the crater floor. The uniformly streaked crown and back, combined with the lack of a dark lore spot suggest that this is in non-breeding (basic) plumage. Two races are attributed to northern Tanzania. Based on Zimmerman et al. (1996), this is the darker C. b. nakuruensis. It is replaced east of the rift valley by the paler C. b. hindii. However Ngorongoro crater is close to the contact zone between the two.

Some authors (e.g. Birdlife International) follow Sibley and Monroe and lump this bird with the Pale-crowned Cisticola (Cisticola cinnamomeus) of Southern Africa.

Nikon P510 Coolpix Point-and-shoot.
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