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26

Golden-headed Cisticola

(Cisticola exilis)
Alternate name(s): "Golden Cisticola", "Golden-headed Fantail Warbler",
"Tailorbird", "Barleybird", "Cornbird"

Size: 9-11 cm
Weight: 6-11 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Golden-headed Cisticola at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "exilis"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage
[Goran Lake, NSW, October 2011]

Near-frontal view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, near Lowood, QLD, October 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage marking its territory
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage marking its territory (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, December 2013]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage studying the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage marking its territory (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage marking its territory (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage marking its territory (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, December 2017]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Priors Pocket Road, Moggill, QLD, October 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, November 2019]

Dorsal view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, December 2013]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola; this bird was found, at the height of the breeding season, together with a male - it is therefore very likely an adult female, not a male in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Postman's Track, Lake Samsonvale, QLD, November 2019]

PAIR

Near-lateral view of a pair of Golden-headed Cisticolas on a roadside fence, male in breeding plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage; this photo shows the erectile crest; note also the typical tapered pattern on the undertail
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2016]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2014]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2016]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola scrambling out of tall grass, where is has been feeding on the ground, between the tussocks
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2013]

Near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, QLD, March 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, QLD, March 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage issuing its "bzzt-bzzzt" warning call
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2016]

Near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2016]

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Atkinson Dam, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2014]

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2016]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage; the bird was observed launching itself from this vantage point into a display flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Oxley Common, Brisbane, QLD, August 2017]

Dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, August 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2013]

Frontal view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2012]

Frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, February 2018]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola glimpsing out of dense reeds to check whether all is safe
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2013]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2012]

Lateral view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, February 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola with its head turned
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, March 2016]

Lateral view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, February 2013]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2012]

Race "alexandrae"

ADULT

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nackeroo Lookout Road, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage
[Timber Creek airport, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Distant lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[The Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, August 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Timer Creek airport, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Race "lineocapilla"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage issuing its call - this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 13 Jan. 2018 (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

Ventral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

"Jumping Jack Flash" - male Golden-headed Cisticola in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola on a high perch; based on its behaviour, this bird is probably a male (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Roseberry, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola on a high perch; based on its behaviour, this bird is probably a male
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Roseberry, Darwin, NT, May 2018]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage; given its generally pale appearance this may be a female (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tree Point Conservation Area, Shoal Bay, NT, March 2019]

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a soaking wet Golden-headed Cisticola (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, Darwin, NT, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT, September 2016]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tree Point Conservation Area, Shoal Bay, NT, March 2019]

Dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Knuckey Lagoon, NT, October 2019]

Dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT, September 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Golden-headed Cisticola found on a beach (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Tree Point Conservation Area, Shoal Bay, NT, March 2019]

Race "diminuta"

ADULT

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Bicentennial Lakes, Mareeba, QLD, August 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Edmonton, Cairns, QLD, July 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Botanical Gardens, Mackay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a Golden-headed Cisticola diving down from its perch (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Edmonton, Cairns, QLD, July 2020]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, July 2020]

Dorsal view of a Golden-headed Cisticola looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Edmonton, Cairns, QLD, July 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Pair

Frontal view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola on a roadside fence
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]

Lateral view of a male Golden-headed Cisticola on a roadside fence
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]

Food, Diet

Golden-headed Cisticolas feed on insects and spiders.

Golden-headed Cisticola eyeing a spider's web, either to collect nesting material or to have a meal, or both
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, December 2017]

Golden-headed Cisticola in non-breeding plumage with its prey, possibly a tadpole (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Timer Creek airport, Timber Creek, NT, November 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

gldcist_art_20131231.mp3 exilis
(SE QLD)
Territorial calls (male) © ART
gldcist_20150327.mp3 exilis
(NE NSW)
Territorial calls (male) © MD
gldcist_20161208.mp3 exilis
(E NSW)
Territorial calls (male) © MD
gldcist_20151113_4.mp3 exilis
(NW NSW)
Various (with juveniles?) © MD
gldcist_20151113_6.mp3 exilis
(NW NSW)
Various (with juveniles?) © MD
gldcist_20151113_3.mp3 exilis
(NW NSW)
? © MD
gldcist_20160331.mp3 exilis
(NW NSW)
? © MD
 
gldcist_pb_20180113_1.m4a lineocapilla
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (male) © PB
gldcist_pb_20180113_2.m4a lineocapilla
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (male) © PB
gldcist_pb_20191222_4.m4a lineocapilla
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (male) © PB
gldcist_pb_20191222_2.m4a lineocapilla
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (male) © PB
gldcist_pb_20191222_3.m4a lineocapilla
(Darwin, NT)
Territorial calls (competing males) © PB
gldcist_pb_20190306.m4a lineocapilla
(Top End, NT)
Various (family clan) © PB
gldcist_pb_20201103.m4a lineocapilla
(Top End, NT)
Interacting with
Zitting Cisticola
© PB
gldcist_pb_20201103_2.m4a lineocapilla
(Top End, NT)
Interacting with
Zitting Cisticola
© PB
gldcist_pb_20201103_3.m4a lineocapilla
(Top End, NT)
Interacting with
Zitting Cisticola
© PB

More Golden-headed Cisticola sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.