Cisticola
Genus of birds
title: "Cisticola" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cisticola", "cisticolidae", "bird-genera", "birds-of-sub-saharan-africa"] description: "Genus of birds" topic_path: "general/cisticola" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisticola" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Genus of birds ::
| name = Cisticola | image = Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) 2.jpg | image_caption = Zitting cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) | taxon = Cisticola | authority = Kaup, 1829 | type_species = Sylvia cisticola | type_species_authority = Temminck, 1820 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = see text NOTOC Cisticolas (pronounced sis-TIC-olas) are a genus of very small insectivorous birds formerly classified in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, but now usually considered to be in the separate family Cisticolidae, along with other southern warbler genera. They are believed to be quite closely related to the swallows and martins, the bulbuls and the white-eyes. The genus contains about 50 species, of which only two are not found in Africa: one in Madagascar and the other from Asia to Australasia. They are also sometimes called fantail-warblers due to their habit of conspicuously flicking their tails, or tailor-birds because of their nests.
Taxonomy
The genus was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1829. The type species, Sylvia cisticola by tautonymy, is now considered as a subspecies of Cisticola juncidis. The name Cisticola is from Ancient Greek kisthos, "rock-rose", and Latin colere, "to dwell".
Range and habitat
Cisticolas are widespread through the Old World's tropical and sub-tropical regions. Africa, which is home to almost all species, is the most likely ancestral home of the group. Cisticolas are usually non-migratory with most species attached to and often distinguishable by their habitats.
A variety of open habitats are occupied. These include wetlands, moist or drier grasslands, open or rocky mountain slopes, and human-modified habitats such as road verges, cultivation, weedy areas or pasture. The species preferring wetlands can be found at the edges of mangrove, or in papyrus, common reed, or typha swamps. Cisticolas are generally quite common within what remains of their preferred habitats.
The zitting cisticola (or fan-tailed warbler) is widespread throughout the tropics and even breeds in southern Europe. It has occurred on a few occasions as a vagrant to England.
Description
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/CisticolaExilisBaker.jpg" caption="Male [[golden-headed cisticola]] and nest"] ::
Because of their small size (about 10 cm) and brown plumage, they are more easily heard than seen. The similar plumage of many species can make them hard to identify, particularly in winter when they seldom emerge from their grasses. Many African species, in particular, are difficult to distinguish other than by their calls. Thirteen species are named for their calls, from "singing" and "chirping" to "bubbling" and "siffling".
Behaviour
Male cisticolas are polygamous. The female builds a discreet nest deep in the grasses, often binding living leaves into the soft fabric of felted plant down, cobweb, and grass: a cup shape for the zitting cisticola with a canopy of tied-together leaves or grasses overhead for camouflage, a full dome for the golden-headed cisticola. The average clutch is about 4 eggs, which take about 2 weeks to hatch. The parasitic weaver is a specialist parasite of cisticolas and prinias.
In summer, male cisticolas of smaller species make spectacular display flights while larger species perch in prominent places to sing lustily. Despite his size and well-camouflaged, brown-streaked plumage, the male golden-headed cisticola of Australia and southern Asia produces a small, brilliant splash of golden-yellow colour in the dappled sunlight of a reed bed.
List of species
The genus contains 53 species:
::data[format=table]
| Image | Common name | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Red-faced Cisticola (Cisticola erythrops).jpg | 120px]] | Red-faced cisticola | Cisticola erythrops |
| [[File:Cistícola cantor (Cisticola cantans), parque nacional de la Selva Impenetrable de Bwindi, Uganda, 2024-02-01, DD 84.jpg | 120px]] | Singing cisticola | Cisticola cantans |
| [[File:Whistling Cisticola - Ghana S4E2445 (16700461533) (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Whistling cisticola | Cisticola lateralis |
| [[File:Trilling Cisticola, Sakania, DR Congo (16421861459).jpg | 120px]] | Trilling cisticola | Cisticola woosnami |
| [[File:Cisticola anonymus 221640.jpg | 120px]] | Chattering cisticola | Cisticola anonymus |
| [[File:Bubbling Cisticola 110ND500 DSC7837.jpg | 120px]] | Bubbling cisticola | Cisticola bulliens |
| [[File:Hunter‘sCisticola.jpg | 120px]] | Hunter's cisticola | Cisticola hunteri |
| [[File:Chubbs cisticola.jpg | 120px]] | Chubb's cisticola | Cisticola chubbi |
| - | Kilombero cisticola | Cisticola bakerorum | Tanzania |
| - | Black-lored cisticola | Cisticola nigriloris | Tanzania |
| [[File:Rock-loving Cisticola (Cisticola aberrans minor).jpg | 120px]] | Rock-loving cisticola | Cisticola aberrans |
| - | Huambo cisticola | Cisticola bailunduensis | Angola |
| [[File:Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chiniana, at Marakele National Park, Limpopo, South Africa - 23880504580.jpg | 120px]] | Rattling cisticola | Cisticola chiniana |
| - | Boran cisticola | Cisticola bodessa | Eritrea, Ethiopia and Kenya |
| [[File:Churring Cisticola - Malawi S4E2167 (16700461993).jpg | 120px]] | Churring cisticola | Cisticola njombe |
| [[File:Amboseli,_Ashy_Cisticola.jpg | 120px]] | Ashy cisticola | Cisticola cinereolus |
| - | Tana River cisticola | Cisticola restrictus | Kenya |
| [[File:Hunter's Cisticola - KenyaNH8O2433 (16698263634).jpg | 120px]] | Tinkling cisticola | Cisticola rufilatus |
| [[File:Cisticola subruficapillus -Namaqua National Park, Northern Cape, South Africa-6.jpg | 120px]] | Grey-backed cisticola | Cisticola subruficapilla |
| [[File:Cisticola lais -Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa-8.jpg | 120px]] | Wailing cisticola | Cisticola lais |
| - | Lynes's cisticola | Cisticola distinctus | Kenya |
| [[File:Cisticola galactotes subsp isodactylus, Pungwe-vloedvlakte, Birding Weto, a.jpg | 120px]] | Rufous-winged cisticola | Cisticola galactotes |
| [[File:Cisticola marginatus amphilectus, Kuito, Birding Weto, a.jpg | 120px]] | Winding cisticola | Cisticola marginatus |
| - | Coastal cisticola | Cisticola haematocephalus | coastal East Africa |
| - | White-tailed cisticola | Cisticola anderseni | Tanzania |
| - | Ethiopian cisticola | Cisticola lugubris | Ethiopia |
| [[File:Luapula Cisticola.jpg | 120px]] | Luapula cisticola | Cisticola luapula |
| [[File:Cisticola pipiens, Kateque, Birding Weto, a.jpg | 120px]] | Chirping cisticola | Cisticola pipiens |
| - | Carruthers's cisticola | Cisticola carruthersi | Rwenzori and northern Lake Victoria region |
| [[File:Levaillant's Cisticola - South Africa S4E7688 (17294752566).jpg | 120px]] | Levaillant's cisticola | Cisticola tinniens |
| [[File:Stout Cisticola (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Stout cisticola | Cisticola robustus |
| [[File:Aberdare Cisticola - Aberdares - Kenya CD5A1890.jpg | 120px]] | Aberdare cisticola | Cisticola aberdare |
| [[File:Croaking cisticola (Cisticola natalensis) (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Croaking cisticola | Cisticola natalensis |
| [[File:Red-pate Cisticola (Cisticola ruficeps).jpg | 120px]] | Red-pate cisticola | Cisticola ruficeps |
| [[File:Dorst's Cisticola (Cisticola guinea).jpg | 120px]] | Dorst's cisticola | Cisticola guinea |
| [[File:Tiny Cisticola JM.jpg | 120px]] | Tiny cisticola | Cisticola nana |
| - | Short-winged cisticola | Cisticola brachypterus | Sub-Saharan Africa (except southern Africa) |
| - | Rufous cisticola | Cisticola rufus | western Africa |
| [[File:Foxy Cisticola - Murchison Falls NP Uganda 06 5128 (17133166820).jpg | 120px]] | Foxy cisticola | Cisticola troglodytes |
| [[File:Neddicky (Cisticola fulvicapilla), Pilanesberg National Park, 2014.jpg | 120px]] | Neddicky | Cisticola fulvicapilla |
| [[File:Tabora ( Long-tailed ) Cisticola - Uganda H8O2802 (17294759186).jpg | 120px]] | Long-tailed cisticola | Cisticola angusticauda |
| [[File:Cisticola melanurus, Cuanavale-rivier, a (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Black-tailed cisticola | Cisticola melanurus |
| [[File:Zitting cisticola 2024 04 19 (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Zitting cisticola | Cisticola juncidis |
| - | Socotra cisticola | Cisticola haesitatus | Socotra |
| [[File:Madagascar Cisticola - Ankarafantsika - Madagascar S4E9918 (15297586322).jpg | 120px]] | Madagascar cisticola | Cisticola cherina |
| [[File:Desert Cisticola (Cisticola aridulus).jpg | 120px]] | Desert cisticola | Cisticola aridulus |
| [[File:Cloud cisticola, Cisticola textrix at Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa. (44048411120).jpg | 120px]] | Cloud cisticola | Cisticola textrix |
| [[File:Black-backed Cisticola male JM.jpg | 120px]] | Black-backed cisticola | Cisticola eximius |
| [[File:Cisticola dambo, Cuanavale-rivier, Birding Weto, a.jpg | 120px]] | Dambo cisticola | Cisticola dambo |
| [[File:Pectoral patch cisticola2.jpg | 120px]] | Pectoral-patch cisticola | Cisticola brunnescens |
| [[File:Cisticola Pale-crowned 2011 12 13 7324 Cedara (cropped).jpg | 120px]] | Pale-crowned cisticola | Cisticola cinnamomeus |
| [[File:Wing-snapping cisticola (Cisticola ayresii), also known as Ayres' cisticola, at Khama Rhino Sancturary in Botswana. (30941303887).jpg | 120px]] | Wing-snapping cisticola | Cisticola ayresii |
| [[File:Cisticola exilis - Cornwallis Rd.jpg | 120px]] | Golden-headed cisticola | Cisticola exilis |
| :: |
References
References
- . ["Cisticolidae"](https://www.aviansystematics.org/4th-edition-checklist?viewfamilies=164). *The Trust for Avian Systematics*.
- Kaup, Johann Jakob. (1829). "Skizzirte Entwickelungs-Geschichte und natürliches System der europäischen Thierwelt". Carl Wilhelm Leske.
- (1986). "Check-list of Birds of the World". Museum of Comparative Zoology.
- Jobling, James A. (2010). "The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names". Christopher Helm.
- (August 2024). "Grassbirds, Donacobius, tetrakas, cisticolas, allies". International Ornithologists' Union.
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