Desert Cisticola
Desert CisticolaDesert CisticolaDesert CisticolaDesert Cisticola

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Serengeti National Park
283 Verified records at Serengeti National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The desert cisticola (Cisticola aridulus) is a species of bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is present throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, although relatively absent from central and coastal western areas of the continent. It is an insectivore. It forages primarily in grassy vegetation. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Desert Cisticola sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 283 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Serengeti National Park

Rattling Cisticola
LC

Rattling Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola chiniana

30–40% · Possible
Zitting Cisticola
LC

Zitting Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola juncidis

10–20% · With luck
Winding Cisticola
LC

Winding Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola marginatus

10–20% · With luck
Croaking Cisticola
LC

Croaking Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola natalensis

10–20% · With luck
Pectoral-patch Cisticola
LC

Pectoral-patch Cisticola

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Cisticola brunnescens

10–20% · With luck
Stout Cisticola
LC

Stout Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola robustus

5–10% · With luck
Tabora Cisticola
LC

Tabora Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola angusticauda

<5% · Rare
Trilling Cisticola
LC

Trilling Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola woosnami

<5% · Rare
Black-necked Cisticola
LC

Black-necked Cisticola

Bird

Cisticola eximius

<5% · Rare
Red-faced Cisticola
LC

Red-faced Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola erythrops

<5% · Rare
Singing Cisticola
LC

Singing Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola cantans

<5% · Rare
Rock-loving Cisticola
LC

Rock-loving Cisticola

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cisticola aberrans

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
<5
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
<5
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
10–20%
2 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
3 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
4 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
5–10%
5 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
6 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
7 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
8 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
9 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
10 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
11 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
12 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
13 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
14 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
15 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
16 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
17 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
18 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
<5%
19 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
20 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
21 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
22 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
23 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
24 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
25 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
26 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
27 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Desert Cisticola in Serengeti National Park?

About 7% of wildlife watchers report a Desert Cisticola sighting in Serengeti National Park, based on 283 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Desert Cisticola in Serengeti National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Desert Cisticola in Serengeti National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Serengeti National Park