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26

Zitting Cisticola

(Cisticola juncidis)
Alternate name(s): "Streaked Cisticola", "Fan-tail Cisticola",
"Streaked Grass-warbler", "Streaked Fantail Warbler"

Size: 9.5-10.5 cm
Weight: 6-8 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 Zitting Cisticola at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "laveryi"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola; the short tail and the intense buff hue suggest that this may be a male in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD, September 2020]

Sex unknown

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding plumage; note the buff tips of the tail feathers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral views of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding plumage, as indicated by the long tail feathers; note how, depending on light conditions, the appearance can change on short timescales (photos courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding plumage; note the buff tips of the tail feathers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD, September 2020]

Lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Horseshoe Lagoon, Hodel Road, Burdekin, QLD, September 2020]

Race "leanyeri"

ADULT

BREEDING

MALE

Collage of 4 distant views of a Zitting Cisticola in breeding plumage; note the whitish tips to the tail feathers characterising this species; the brown cap is typical of males (photos courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, January 2016]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding plumage; note the pale supercilium (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Race "cisticola"

Photos of Zitting Cisticolas, race "cisticola" were taken by us in Europe.

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.

zitcist_jp_20201109.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls © JP
zitcist_jp_20201109_2.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls © JP
zitcist_jp_20200310.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls © JP
zitcist_jp_20190608_3.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls
(+ Spanish Sparrow)
© JP
zitcist_jp_20190608.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls
(+ Spanish Sparrow)
© JP
zitcist_jp_20190608_2.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls Q&A
(+ Spanish Sparrow)
© JP
zitcist_jp_20190608_4.m4a cisticola
(Portugal)
"Zitting" calls Q&A
(+ Spanish Sparrow)
© JP
 
zitcist_pb_20201103.m4a leanyeri
(Top End, NT)
Interacting with
Golden-headed Cisticola
© PB
zitcist_pb_20201103_2.m4a leanyeri
(Top End, NT)
Interacting with
Golden-headed Cisticola
© PB
zitcist_pb_20201103_3.m4a leanyeri
(Top End, NT)
Interacting with
Golden-headed Cisticola
© PB

More Zitting 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.