An endemic bird of the Ethiopian and Eritrean highlands, the Ethiopian cisticola (Cisticola lugubris) name comes from its genus, Cisticola, meaning rock-rose dweller (Greek kisthos + Latin colere), and its specific name lugubris, likely from Latin for "mournful" or "somber," reflecting its dark back and quiet nature. Also known as the Abyssinian black-backed cisticola, it lives in montane grasslands, wetlands (marshes, swamps, river edges), and drier habitats like heath and bracken, typically between 1,500 and 2,600 meters, often near tall grasses for nesting.
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