Cisticola
Encyclopedia
Cisticolas are a genus of very small insectivorous bird
s formerly classified in the Old World warbler
family Sylviidae, but now usually considered to be in the separate family Cisticolidae
, along with other southern warbler genera. They are believed to be quite closely related to the swallows and martins
, the bulbul
s and the white-eye
s. The genus contains about 45 species, of which only two are not found in Africa: one in Madagascar and the other from Asia to Australasia.
Their generic name, Cisticola, means inhabitant (-cola) of a woven basket (cista-), referring to the finely woven nest of the Zitting Cisticola
, the most widespread species. They are also sometimes called fantail-warblers due to their habit of conspicuously flicking their tails, or tailor-birds because of their nests.
's tropical and sub-tropical regions. Africa
, which is home to almost all species, is the most likely ancestral home of the group. Cisticolas are usually non-migratory
with most species attached to and often distinguishable by their habitats.
A variety of open habitats are occupied. These include wetlands, moist or drier grasslands, open or rocky mountain slopes, and human-modified habitats such as road verges, cultivation, weedy areas or pasture. The species preferring wetlands can be found at the edges of mangrove
, or in papyrus
, common reed
, or typha
swamps. Cisticolas are generally quite common within what remains of their preferred habitats.
The Zitting Cisticola
(or Fan-tailed Warbler) is widespread throughout the tropics and even breeds in southern Europe
. It has occurred on a few occasions as a vagrant to England.
Because of their small size (about 10 cm) and brown plumage, they are more easily heard than seen. The similar plumage of many species can make them hard to identify, particularly in winter when they seldom emerge from their grasses. Many African species, in particular, are difficult to distinguish other than by their calls. Thirteen species are named for their calls, from "Singing" and "Chirping" to "Bubbling" and "Siffling".
Male cisticolas are polygamous. The female builds a discreet nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves into the soft fabric of felted plant down, cobweb, and grass: a cup shape for the Zitting Cisticola
with a canopy of tied-together leaves or grasses overhead for camouflage, a full dome for the Golden-headed Cisticola
. The average clutch is about 4 eggs, which take about 2 weeks to hatch. The Parasitic Weaver
is a specialist parasite of cisticolas and prinia
s.
In summer, male cisticolas of smaller species make spectacular display flights while larger species perch in prominent places to sing lustily. Despite his size and well-camouflaged, brown-streaked plumage, the male Golden-headed Cisticola of Australia and southern Asia produces a small, brilliant splash of golden-yellow colour in the dappled sunlight of a reed bed.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s formerly classified in the Old World warbler
Old World warbler
The "Old World Warblers" is the name used to describe a large group of birds formerly grouped together in the bird family Sylviidae. The family held over 400 species in over 70 genera, and were the source of much taxonomic confusion. Two families were split out initially, the cisticolas into...
family Sylviidae, but now usually considered to be in the separate family Cisticolidae
Cisticolidae
The Cisticolidae family of small passerine birds is a group of about 110 warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are often included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae....
, along with other southern warbler genera. They are believed to be quite closely related to the swallows and martins
Swallow
The swallows and martins are a group of passerine birds in the family Hirundinidae which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding...
, the bulbul
Bulbul
Bulbuls are a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds. Many forest species are known as greenbuls. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical Asia to Indonesia, and north as far as Japan. A few insular species occur on the tropical islands...
s and the white-eye
White-eye
White-eye can refer to:*White-eye , a large family of birds.*White-eye , a species of fish.*White-eye mutation, a mutation in Drosophila melanogaster linked to the X chromosome, found by reciprocal cross breeding experiments in 1906.*A lioness member of the Marsh Pride of lions that have featured...
s. The genus contains about 45 species, of which only two are not found in Africa: one in Madagascar and the other from Asia to Australasia.
Their generic name, Cisticola, means inhabitant (-cola) of a woven basket (cista-), referring to the finely woven nest of the Zitting Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
The Zitting Cisticola or Streaked Fantail Warbler , is widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia...
, the most widespread species. They are also sometimes called fantail-warblers due to their habit of conspicuously flicking their tails, or tailor-birds because of their nests.
Range and habitat
Cisticolas are widespread through the Old WorldOld World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
's tropical and sub-tropical regions. Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, which is home to almost all species, is the most likely ancestral home of the group. Cisticolas are usually non-migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
with most species attached to and often distinguishable by their habitats.
A variety of open habitats are occupied. These include wetlands, moist or drier grasslands, open or rocky mountain slopes, and human-modified habitats such as road verges, cultivation, weedy areas or pasture. The species preferring wetlands can be found at the edges of mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
, or in papyrus
Papyrus
Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt....
, common reed
Phragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
, or typha
Typha
Typha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is essentially cosmopolitan, being found in a variety of wetland habitats...
swamps. Cisticolas are generally quite common within what remains of their preferred habitats.
The Zitting Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
The Zitting Cisticola or Streaked Fantail Warbler , is widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia...
(or Fan-tailed Warbler) is widespread throughout the tropics and even breeds in southern Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It has occurred on a few occasions as a vagrant to England.
Appearance and habits
Male cisticolas are polygamous. The female builds a discreet nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves into the soft fabric of felted plant down, cobweb, and grass: a cup shape for the Zitting Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola
The Zitting Cisticola or Streaked Fantail Warbler , is widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia...
with a canopy of tied-together leaves or grasses overhead for camouflage, a full dome for the Golden-headed Cisticola
Golden-headed Cisticola
The Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis, also known as the Bright-headed Cisticola, is a species of warbler found from India to Australia....
. The average clutch is about 4 eggs, which take about 2 weeks to hatch. The Parasitic Weaver
Parasitic Weaver
The Cuckoo Finch , also known as the Parasitic Weaver or Cuckoo Weaver, is a small passerine bird now placed in the family Viduidae with the indigobirds and whydahs. It occurs in grassland in Africa south of the Sahara. The male is mainly yellow and green while the female is buff with dark streaks...
is a specialist parasite of cisticolas and prinia
Prinia
The prinias are a genus of small insectivorous birds belonging to the passerine bird family Cisticolidae. They are often also alternatively classed in the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae. The name of the genus is derived from the Javanese prinya, the local name for the Bar-winged Prinia.The...
s.
In summer, male cisticolas of smaller species make spectacular display flights while larger species perch in prominent places to sing lustily. Despite his size and well-camouflaged, brown-streaked plumage, the male Golden-headed Cisticola of Australia and southern Asia produces a small, brilliant splash of golden-yellow colour in the dappled sunlight of a reed bed.
Species in taxonomic order
- Red-faced CisticolaRed-faced CisticolaThe Red-faced Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia,...
, Cisticola erythrops - Singing CisticolaSinging CisticolaThe Singing Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali,...
, Cisticola cantans - Whistling CisticolaWhistling CisticolaThe Whistling Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria,...
, Cisticola lateralis - Chattering CisticolaChattering CisticolaThe Chattering Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and...
, Cisticola anonymus - Trilling CisticolaTrilling CisticolaThe Trilling Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia....
, Cisticola woosnami - Bubbling CisticolaBubbling CisticolaThe Bubbling Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland....
, Cisticola bulliens - Chubb's CisticolaChubb's CisticolaThe Chubb's Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.-References:...
, Cisticola chubbi - Hunter's CisticolaHunter's CisticolaThe Hunter's Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.Its natural habitats are tropical moist montane and high-altitude shrubland. It is a dueting species....
, Cisticola hunteri - Black-lored CisticolaBlack-lored CisticolaThe Black-lored Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
, Cisticola nigriloris - Rock-loving Cisticola, Cisticola aberrans
- Boran CisticolaBoran CisticolaThe Boran Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan....
, Cisticola bodessa - Rattling CisticolaRattling CisticolaThe Rattling Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and...
, Cisticola chiniana - Ashy CisticolaAshy CisticolaThe Ashy Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania....
, Cisticola cinereolus - Red-pate CisticolaRed-pate CisticolaThe Red-pate Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.Its natural...
, Cisticola ruficeps - Dorst's CisticolaDorst's CisticolaDorst's Cisticola, also known as the Plaintive Cisticola, is a bird in the family Cisticolidae. It is found in Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Gambia, and Nigeria....
, Cisticola guinea - formerly C. dorsti or included in C. ruficeps - Grey CisticolaGrey CisticolaThe Grey Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is dry savanna.-References:* BirdLife...
, Cisticola rufilatus - Red-headed CisticolaRed-headed CisticolaThe Red-headed Cisticola or Grey-backed Cisticola is a small passerine bird. This cisticola is a resident breeder in southernmost Angola, Namibia and western South Africa....
, Cisticola subruficapillus - Brown-backed CisticolaBrown-backed CisticolaThe Brown-backed Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Cameroon and Nigeria.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25 July 2007....
, Cisticola discolor - Wailing CisticolaWailing CisticolaThe Wailing Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Angola, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.The northern subspecies C. l...
, Cisticola lais - Tana River CisticolaTana River CisticolaThe Tana River Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Kenya and there is speculation that it may also be found in Somalia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist shrubland....
, Cisticola restrictus - Churring CisticolaChurring CisticolaThe Churring Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:...
, Cisticola njombe - Winding CisticolaWinding CisticolaThe Winding Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It has a scattered distribution across Africa south of the Sahara.-Taxonomy:...
, Cisticola galactotes - Chirping CisticolaChirping CisticolaThe Chirping Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe....
, Cisticola pipiens - Carruthers' Cisticola, Cisticola carruthersi
- Levaillant's CisticolaLevaillant's CisticolaLevaillant's Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens, is a small passerine bird Levaillant's Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens, is a small passerine bird Levaillant's Cisticola or Tinkling Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens, is a small passerine bird (though Tinkling...
, Cisticola tinniens - Stout CisticolaStout CisticolaThe Stout Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia...
, Cisticola robustus - Croaking CisticolaCroaking CisticolaThe Croaking Cisticola, Cisticola natalensis, is an Old World warbler in the genus Cisticola. This genus is sometimes split off with various other southern warbler genera and given family status as the Cisticolidae....
, Cisticola natalensis - Piping CisticolaPiping CisticolaThe Piping Cisticola, Cisticola fulvicapillus, is a small passerine bird. In South Africa it is known as the Neddicky from the Afrikaans name for the species....
, Cisticola fulvicapillus - Aberdare CisticolaAberdare CisticolaThe Aberdare Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is endemic to Kenya.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Cisticola aberdare - Tabora CisticolaTabora CisticolaThe Tabora Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.Its natural habitat is dry savanna....
, Cisticola angusticaudus - Slender-tailed Cisticola, Cisticola melanurus
- Siffling CisticolaSiffling CisticolaThe Short-winged Cisticola , also known as the Siffling Cisticola, is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family...
, Cisticola brachypterus - Rufous CisticolaRufous CisticolaThe Rufous Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo....
, Cisticola rufus - Foxy CisticolaFoxy CisticolaThe Foxy Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is native to Central African Republic The Foxy Cisticola (Cisticola troglodytes) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is native to Central African Republic The Foxy Cisticola (Cisticola troglodytes) is a species of...
, Cisticola troglodytes - Tiny CisticolaTiny CisticolaThe Tiny Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and Tanzania....
, Cisticola nanus - Zitting CisticolaZitting CisticolaThe Zitting Cisticola or Streaked Fantail Warbler , is widely distributed Old World warbler whose breeding range includes southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia...
, Cisticola juncidis - Socotra Cisticola, Cisticola haesitatus
- Madagascar CisticolaMadagascar CisticolaThe Madagascar Cisticola is a species of bird in the cisticola family . It forms a superspecies with the closely related Zitting Cisticola and the Socotra Cisticola....
, Cisticola cherinus - Desert CisticolaDesert CisticolaThe Desert Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.Its...
, Cisticola aridulus - Cloud Cisticola, Cisticola textrix
- Black-necked CisticolaBlack-necked CisticolaThe Black-necked Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo,...
, Cisticola eximius - Cloud-scraping CisticolaCloud-scraping CisticolaThe Dambo Cisticola or Cloud-scraping Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland.-References:* BirdLife International...
, Cisticola dambo - Pectoral-patch CisticolaPectoral-patch CisticolaThe Pectoral-patch Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are damp or wet areas in upland grassland.-Description:At 9-10cm...
, Cisticola brunnescens - Pale-crowned CisticolaPale-crowned CisticolaThe Pale-crowned Cisticola is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family.It is found in Angola, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Gabon, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.Its natural habitats are damp or marshy areas in upland...
, Cisticola cinnamomeus - Wing-snapping CisticolaWing-snapping CisticolaThe Wing-snapping Cisticola , also known as Ayres' Cisticola, is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. Its scientific name honours South African ornithologist Thomas Ayres.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Cisticola ayresii - Golden-headed CisticolaGolden-headed CisticolaThe Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis, also known as the Bright-headed Cisticola, is a species of warbler found from India to Australia....
, Cisticola exilis
External links
- Cisticola videos on the Internet Bird Collection