Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais

Medium-sized, streak-backed cisticola of uplands. Varies geographically: darker on the back and with more rufous on the face in northern Tanzania and Kenya. Found in grassland and savanna on rocky slopes with a mix of bushes, grass, and often aloes. Generally inconspicuous; seen singly or in pairs. Vocalizations include a short, explosive, accelerating trill, and rising wails. Very similar to Red-headed Cisticola, but has a different voice, a larger bill, more buffy underparts, and shows rufous in the wing. Also similar to Rattling Cisticola, but has more rufous in the face and has a longer tail. As with all cisticolas, habitat and voice are important cues in identification.