Winding Cisticola
Winding CisticolaWinding CisticolaWinding CisticolaWinding Cisticola

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Masai Mara National Reserve
387 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
4,868 Verified sightings across all 29 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Winding Cisticola

The winding cisticola (Cisticola marginatus) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It has a scattered distribution across Africa south of the Sahara, and north of 11°S. The winding cisticola has several subspecies:

C. m. amphilectus Reichenow, 1875 Mauritania and Senegal to Ghana, south-western Cameroon and north-western Angola C. m. zalingei Lynes, 1930 northern Nigeria to western Sudan C. m. marginatus (Heuglin, 1869) southern Sudan and northern Uganda

C. m. nyansae Neumann, 1905 central DRCongo to Uganda and Kenya C. m. suahelicus Neumann, 1905 south-eastern DRCongo, Tanzania and north-eastern Zambia The Clements list (2017) and the Howard and Moore list (2014) lump the rufous-winged cisticola, Luapula cisticola, coastal cisticola and Ethiopian cisticola with the above subspecies as the winding cisticola Cisticola galactotes (sensu lato). The Clements list (2017) recognizes 11 subspecies.

Its natural habitats are tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland and swamps. Media related to Cisticola marginatus at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Cisticola marginatus at Wikispecies Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve

Rattling Cisticola
LC

Rattling Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola chiniana

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Stout Cisticola
LC

Stout Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola robustus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Pectoral-patch Cisticola
LC

Pectoral-patch Cisticola

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Cisticola brunnescens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Zitting Cisticola
LC

Zitting Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola juncidis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Croaking Cisticola
LC

Croaking Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola natalensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Tabora Cisticola
LC

Tabora Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola angusticauda

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Ashy Cisticola
LC

Ashy Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola cinereolus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Desert Cisticola
LC

Desert Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola aridulus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Trilling Cisticola
LC

Trilling Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola woosnami

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Black-necked Cisticola
LC

Black-necked Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola eximius

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Red-faced Cisticola
LC

Red-faced Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola erythrops

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Rock-loving Cisticola
LC

Rock-loving Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola aberrans

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
2 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~30%
3 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
4 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
5 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
6 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
7 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
8 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
9 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
10 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~10%
11 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
12 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
13 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
14 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
15 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
16 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
17 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
18 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
19 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
20 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
21 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
22 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
23 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
24 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
25 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
26 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
27 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
Insufficient data
28 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
29 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Winding Cisticola in Masai Mara National Reserve?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Winding Cisticola sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 387 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Winding Cisticola in Masai Mara National Reserve?

February has the highest sighting rate for Winding Cisticola in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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