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 Masai Mara National Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Masai Mara National Reserve
Rattling Cisticola
Cisticola chiniana
Stout Cisticola
Cisticola robustus
Pectoral-patch Cisticola
Cisticola brunnescens
Winding Cisticola
Cisticola marginatus
Croaking Cisticola
Cisticola natalensis
Tabora Cisticola
Cisticola angusticauda
Ashy Cisticola
Cisticola cinereolus
Desert Cisticola
Cisticola aridulus
Trilling Cisticola
Cisticola woosnami
Black-necked Cisticola
Cisticola eximius
Red-faced Cisticola
Cisticola erythrops
Rock-loving Cisticola
Cisticola aberrans
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 Masai Mara National Reserve?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Zitting Cisticola sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 404 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Zitting Cisticola in Masai Mara National Reserve?
April has the highest sighting rate for Zitting Cisticola in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.