Cisticolas and Allies (Cisticolidae)

Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana) - HBW 11, p. 445

French: Cisticole grinçante German: Rotscheitel-Zistenänger Spanish: Cistícola Cascabel

Taxonomy: Drymoica chiniana A. Smith, 1843, near Zeerust, South Africa.
Geographical variation complex, and many races possibly no more than clinal forms; taxonomic review needed. Proposed race huilensis (S Angola) synonymized with smithersi. N population of nominate race recently split as race vulpiniceps, supposedly having redder crown, less streaked upperparts and whiter underparts in non-breeding plumage, but not widely accepted. Seventeen subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

simplex (Heuglin, 1869) - S Sudan, NE DRCongo and N Uganda.
fortis Lynes, 1930 - SE Gabon, PRCongo and S DRCongo S to NC Angola and Zambia (except SW & E).
fricki Mearns, 1913 - S Ethiopia and N Kenya.

See all 17 subspecies

simplex (Heuglin, 1869) - S Sudan, NE DRCongo and N Uganda.
fortis Lynes, 1930 - SE Gabon, PRCongo and S DRCongo S to NC Angola and Zambia (except SW & E).
fricki Mearns, 1913 - S Ethiopia and N Kenya.
humilis Madarász, 1904 - highlands of E Uganda and W Kenya.
ukamba Lynes, 1930 - highlands of C Kenya and N Tanzania.
heterophrys Oberholser, 1906 - coastal Kenya and N Tanzania.
victoria Lynes, 1930 - SW Kenya and N Tanzania (area around L Victoria).
fischeri Reichenow, 1891 - NC Tanzania.
keithi Parkes, 1987 - SC Tanzania.
mbeya Parkes, 1987 - S Tanzania.
emendatus Vincent, 1944 - SE Tanzania, Malawi and N Mozambique.
procerus W. K. H. Peters, 1868 - E Zambia, S Malawi and C Mozambique.
bensoni Traylor, 1964 - S Zambia.
smithersi B. P. Hall, 1956 - S Angola, extreme N Namibia, NW Botswana, and extreme SW Zambia and W Zimbabwe.
chiniana (A. Smith, 1843) - Zimbabwe, interior S Mozambique, SE Botswana and South African plateau.
frater Reichenow, 1916 - C Namibia.
campestris Gould, 1845 - coastal plain of S Mozambique, Swaziland and E South Africa.