Chubb's Cisticola

Cisticola chubbi

Other Names

    Cisticole de Chubb   Farncistensänger         Cisticola di Chubb

World: Central East Africa from W Kenya, Uganda, NW Tanzania, eastern Zaire. There is also a disjunct population in Cameroon.

Kenya: West of the Rift Valley along wooded streams and forest edges.

This is a rather plain, black-lored cisticola of dense vegetation in western regions of Kenya. Although some authorities consider Chubb's to be conspecific with Hunter's Cisticola there is no evidence of intergradation where their ranges overlap (primarily at around 2700m on Mt Elgon). The 2 species are, however, similar although Chubb's has no streaking on its back and a somewhat brighter rufous crown and neck. Although the birds are shy and retiring when not displaying they perform a distinctive antiphonal duet all the year around and are conspicuous when singing.