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Zitting CisticolaAlternate name(s): "Streaked Cisticola", "Fan-tail Cisticola", "Streaked Grass-warbler", "Streaked Fantail Warbler" ![]() Size: 9.5-10.5 cm Weight: 6-8 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "cisticola"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage;
note the dark crown and the black bill
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Frontal view of a male Zitting Cisticola in fresh breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2023]
Near-frontal view of a male Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2020]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2019]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]
Near-frontal view of a female Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2019]
Lateral view of a female Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage;
note the pale bill and the prominent streaking on the
crown
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]
Lateral view of a female Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a female Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]
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NON-BREEDING |
Sex unknown |
Full-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Landeiras, Setubal, Portugal, December 2016]
Frontal view of a preening Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage,
exposing the black bases of its feathers
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Landeiras, Setubal, Portugal, December 2016]
Frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, November 2015]
Near-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]
Near-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Aguas de Moura, Palmela, Setubal, Portugal, January 2021]
Near-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Landeiras, Setubal, Portugal, December 2016]
Near-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
looking sideways
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, August 2014]
Near-frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]
Near-lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2020]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2021]
Close-up lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2021]
Close-up lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2017]
Lateral view of a Zitting Cisticola moulting into non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, August 2015]
Lateral/ventral view of a Zitting Cisticola
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2017]
Lateral/ventral view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Santa Justa, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, October 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a Zitting Cisticola in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Minutos Dam, near Montemor o Novo, Evora, Portugal, December 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Zitting Cisticola
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Zitting Cisticola
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]
Lateral view of a juvenile(?) Zitting Cisticola
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2017]
Race "leanyeri"
Photos of Zitting Cisticolas, race "leanyeri" were taken by us in Australia.
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Apr - Aug | Eggs: 4 - 6 | Incubation period: 12 - 14 days | Fledging age: 12 - 13 days |
Zitting Cisticolas can have 2 to 3 broods per year. The species has the unusual trait that females reach sexual maturity at only 40 days of age. Being sedentary, this helps the species recover quickly from massive population losses during harsh winters.
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Nest |
Type: Basket | Material: Plant down, grass, cobwebs | Height above ground: 0.2 - 1 m |
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
Zitting Cisticola nests can take a variety of shapes - from a conventional basket on a minor fork to a basket woven into a tussock of grass, sometimes with the top of the tussock bound together as a dome for protection from above.
Near-frontal view of a male Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
carrying nesting material
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
Lateral view of a male Zitting Cisticola in breeding
plumage
carrying nesting material
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]
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Eggs |
Size: 16 x 12 mm | Colour: Light-grey, with sparse brownish speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Food, Diet |
Frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola with its prey, a caterpillar
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]
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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
.