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Here's another little bird I saw at WCNP on 16 September 2007. Is this cheeky chappy perchance a neddicky?

It looks more like a Grey-backed Cisticola to me. I'm trying to latch on to any specific features on which to base that but it's more a gut feel ID than a calculated ID. I guess the long tail was the first thing that nudged me towards GB Cistic.

The bird does not appear to have much of a supercillium and there does seem to be faint streaking on the mantle, both features that would be consistent with GBC. Also note an interesting thing, the second pictures show a very faint streaking on the breast. This is unusual for Cisticolas in general but not for the south-wesern populations of Grey-backed Cisticola (just about the subspecies that you can expect to find in WCNP).

So I would venture as far as identifying your bird down to subspecies level
Cisticola subruficapillus subruficapilla

That is SO cool, deefstes!! Greybacked cisticola was my other guess, but I was so UN-sure of it that I decided not to mention it Also, this little bird wasn't at all shy, almost posing for the camera ... whereas I usually only get a glimpse of any possible cisticola(s), and if I'm lucky, an indistinct photo So I'd thought that the possibility of this being the GBC was a really long shot. Glad I was wrong!

Is this one also a greybacked cisticola?


Thanks!

yes

This Cisticola was seen on Sir Lowrys pass in the Cape. I have an idea of what it is, but certain features don't seem to be typical of the species:





Cheers

Niall.

Grey-Backed Cisticola

I don't know Justin... You're call certainly is good, but this bird is much too plain, especially as you'd find the more streaked southern race of GBC there. The GISS is also wrong - this bird is slender while GBC is more stocky. The tail is too long and too distinctly barred, while the overall colouration is too plain to be GBC.

I'm not yet going to make a final call, but I feel quite strongly it's not a GBC! I think I'm even more willing to go with Neddicky right now than GBC. Here's one of my own pics of GBC in the Western Cape (other pic can be seen in the ID Challenge under challenge #33):



You can see how the southern GBC is a very streaked bird all over.

So, what do you think!?

Moegaai, I've never been to the Western Cape, but something just shouted out Grey-backed to me...

This image somewhat shows my reasoning...Neddicky just doesnt seem to fit the bill....(Im my novice opinion)

http://www.charliesbirdblog.com/~charli ... ist_06.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Niall, it doesn't look dark enough but I think it is a Levaillant's Cisticola, was it close to water? It seems to have too much rufous for Neddicky or Grey-backed. The giss/size also seems wrong for Neddicky. It almost looks like a Rattling Cisticola, but that doesn't occur anywhere close to the Cape. Now, spill your beans - what do you think!?

Here's another that has me stumped Is it perhaps a neddicky? Seen at WCNP on 28 September 2009.

Now you've stumped me,

I'm useless at Cisticolas (amongst others!), but will have a go.

Does not look like Neddicky - reddish tail, streaked back. Nearest I can find in the ID books I have is Levaillant's, but don't quote me on this as I'm only making presumptive ID here. Hope someone with more experience can confirm or ID it positively for you.

Barcud

I think that may be Greybacked Cisticola........

Hi Rusty,

I discounted Grey backed because of the lack of streaking on the underparts - (does the Southern race have birds with plain underparts?) - and the obvious wing panel shown on the bird in the pic. But have to admit to being driven round the bend trying to figure these out

I just know I'll not get any sleep tonight trying to get my head around these

Barcud

I'd discounted the cisticolas because of the very pale breast and the pale bill, both of which look like the paler version of neddicky shown in my Newman's.