Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyCisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
- GenusCisticola (Cisticolas)
- SpeciesCisticola juncidis (Zitting Cisticola)
About the Zitting Cisticola
The zitting cisticola, formerly also fan-tailed warbler or streaked fantail warbler (Cisticola juncidis), is a widely distributed Old World warbler in the family Cisticolidae, whose breeding range includes western and southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia. A small bird found mainly in grasslands, it is best identified by its rufous rump; in addition it lacks any gold on the collar and the brownish tail is tipped with white. During the breeding season males have a zigzagging flight display accompanied by regular "zit" calls that give it its English name. They build their pouch nest suspended within a clump of grass.
The zitting cisticola was described by the naturalist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1810 and given the binomial name Sylvia juncidis. The type locality is Campofelice di Roccella in Sicily. The current genus name Cisticola is from Ancient Greek kisthos, "rock-rose", and Latin colere, "to dwell". The specific juncidis is also from Latin and is a diminutive of iuncus, "reed".
A total of 17 subspecies are currently accepted; they fall into two main groups, with... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Zitting Cisticola in Etosha National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Etosha National Park
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Eremomela icteropygialis
Green-backed Camaroptera
Camaroptera brachyura
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Apalis flavida
Barred Wren-Warbler
Calamonastes fasciolatus
Rufous-eared Warbler
Malcorus pectoralis
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Prinia subflava
Burnt-neck Eremomela
Eremomela usticollis
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis nitens
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Zitting Cisticola in Etosha National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Zitting Cisticola sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 26 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Zitting Cisticola in Etosha National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Zitting Cisticola in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.