Kilombero Cisticola Cisticola bakerorum

A large, relatively colorful marsh cisticola. Note the rufous cap, the short white eyebrow stripe, and the pale and black bands at the tip of the tail. Very localized, found only in reedbeds in the Kilombero Swamp, usually in pairs or small groups. The distinctive song is given in chorus: a frantic rising and falling sequence of “squeaky wheel” notes. As with other cisticolas, habitat and vocalizations are important to identification. Separated from similar cisticola species by the pale eyebrow patch.