Carruthers's cisticola is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is swamps.
Region
African Great Lakes region
Typical Environment
Found in papyrus and reed swamps around lakes and sluggish rivers in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. It favors extensive stands of Cyperus papyrus with interspersed sedges and reeds, often along lake margins and backwaters. Birds usually keep low within dense stems, occasionally perching atop papyrus heads to sing. It tolerates moderately disturbed wetlands but disappears when papyrus is heavily cut or drained.
Altitude Range
700–1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also known as the Papyrus Cisticola, this species is tightly tied to papyrus wetlands and is a good indicator of the health of East Africa’s swamp ecosystems. It is typically shy, but males sing conspicuously from reed or papyrus tops. Wetland drainage, burning, and papyrus harvesting are the main threats to local populations.
Temperament
secretive in dense cover, active and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, fluttering flights over reeds
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups within a territory. Nests are woven low in papyrus or reeds, often anchored to vertical stems. Likely monogamous during the breeding season, with the male singing from exposed perches to advertise territory.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of high, thin notes and buzzy trills delivered from papyrus tops or in brief display flights. Calls include sharp ticks and soft chits used to maintain contact in dense vegetation.
Plumage
Upperparts brown with dark streaking, a warm rufous-toned crown, and a greyer face; underparts buff to pale with a whitish throat. Tail is relatively long and slightly graduated with darker bars. Feathers appear soft and slightly fluffy when fluffed in display.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small insects such as flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and their larvae, as well as spiders and other small arthropods. It gleans prey from papyrus stems and leaves, probes among leaf bases, and occasionally makes short sallies to snatch flying insects. Foraging is typically low to mid-level within dense stands where cover is abundant.
Preferred Environment
Dense papyrus beds, mixed sedge–reed swamps, and vegetated lake edges. Often forages along narrow channels, edges, and small openings within tall emergent vegetation.
