The pectoral-patch cisticola (''Cisticola brunnescens'') is a species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...

in the family

Cisticolidae The family Cisticolidae is a group of about 160 warblers, small passerine birds found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They were formerly included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae. This family probably originated ...

. It is native to the Adamawa Massif, Gabon, the Congo and highlands of East Africa. Its natural

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

s are damp or wet areas in upland grassland.

Description

At 9–10 cm this is a small, streak-backed cisticola with short or medium tail, which may get longer in the breeding season. It differs from the

pale-crowned cisticola The pale-crowned cisticola (''Cisticola cinnamomeus'') is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. Taxonomy ''Cisticola cinnamomeus'' was split from ''Cisticola brunnescens'' ( pectoral-patch cisticola); since 2000 it has been recognised as ...

in having a pale rufous (not buff) crown and forehead in the breeding season. The pectoral patches become darker in the breeding season, but even then they may not be easy to see.

Voice

The voice is stonechat-like in quality with harsh ''tssk tssk'' or ''szisk szisk'' notes given in display flight.

References

pectoral-patch cisticola Afromontane endemic bird species pectoral-patch cisticola Taxa named by Theodor von Heuglin Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Cisticolidae-stub