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26

Zitting Cisticola

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

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 "cisticola"

ADULT

BREEDING

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]

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]

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]

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.

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.

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]

Eggs

Size: 16 x 12 mm Colour: Light-grey, with sparse brownish speckles Shape: Tapered oval

Food, Diet

Frontal view of a Zitting Cisticola with its prey, a caterpillar (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2014]

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.