Cisticola textrix (near-endemic)

This tiny bird is one of two very short-tailed cisticolas, and can be separated from ayres’ cisticola based on location, display flight and song. (The western cape race is far easier to identify, given its diagnostic breast streaking). During breeding season male cloud cisticolas fly 30 to 50 metres in the air, giving their distinctive call every few seconds, before diving to the ground.

I first saw this very small, near-endemic in June 2011 while birding the Eendracht Road near Suikerbosrand. This spot, together with the Vlaklaagte farm roads near Bronkhorstspruit, are reliable locations for this species.