Zitting Cisticola

Photo by Momo
Gialova Lagoon, Peloponnese, Greece, September 2006

Alternative name: Fan-tailed Warbler

Cisticola juncidis

Disambiguation: For the American species Euthlypis lachrymosa, see Fan-tailed Warbler

Identification

10-11cm.

• Sandy-brown above, heavily streaked with black on the mantle
• White underparts
• Short broad, white-tipped tail
  

Breeding male has a black bill

Distribution

Southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia.

Photo by kctsang
Singapore, April 2006

Taxonomy

This genus is sometimes split off with various other southern warbler genera and given family status as the Cisticolidae.

Subspecies^[1]

Photo by M Kwan
Long Valley, Hong Kong, December 2007

• C. j. cisticola:

• Coastal western France to Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands and north-western Africa

• C. j. juncidis:

• Southern France to Corsica, Sardinia, Balkans, Turkey, Syria and Israel

• C. j. neuroticus:

• Cyprus, Levant, Iraq and western Iran

• C. j. uropygialis (perrenius):

• Senegal to southern Nigeria, Sudan, Rwanda and northern Tanzania; Mafia Island

• C. j. terrestris:

• Rio Muni to central Zaire, Burundi and southern Tanzania

• C. j. cursitans:

• Eastern Afghanistan to Pakistan, Nepal, northern Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka

• C. j. salimalii:

• South-western India (Kerala)

• C. j. omalurus:

• Sri Lanka

• C. j. malaya:

• Southern Myanmar to Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra and western Java

• C. j. brunniceps:

• Japan (Honshu to Ryukyu, Izu and Cheju-Do islands) to northern Philippines

• C. j. tinnabulans:

• Southern China to Indochina, Hainan, Taiwan and Philippines

• C. j. nigrostriatus:

• South-western Philippines (Culion and Palawan)

• C. j. fuscicapilla:

• Eastern Java, Kangean Islands and Lesser Sundas

• C. j. constans:

• Sulawesi, Togian Island, Muna Island, Tukangbesi Island and Peleng Island

• C. j. normani:

• Coastal southern New Guinea and coastal northern Queensland

• C. j. leanyeri:

• Disjunct in coastal northern Australia to western Gulf of Carpenteria

• C. j. laveryi:

• Coastal north-eastern Queensland (Cape York Peninsula south to Keppel Island)

Habitat

Open land with shrub, damp scrubby grassland, reeds, cane fields, thick brush, mangroves. Grassy coastal plains, saltmarsh etc.

Behaviour

A small Warbler often seen only as a fleeting glimpse as it is a very active little bird. Some subspecies appear to be shier than others.

Nesting

The female builds a cup shaped nest deep in grasses, from living leaves, plant-down, cobwebs, and grass, with a canopy of tied-together leaves or grasses overhead for camouflage. Three to six eggs are laid.

Vocalisation

The male has a most distinctive song-flight. It flies in circles about 20 ft above the ground, undulating considerably. At the top of each arc it gives a sort of 'zit' note. <flashmp3>Cisticola juncidis (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
4. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
5. BF Member observations

External Links

Search for photos of Zitting Cisticola in the gallery