Cisticola

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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.

The genus was erected by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup in 1829. 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

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:
* Red-faced cisticola, ''Cisticola erythrops''
* Singing cisticola, ''Cisticola cantans''
* Whistling cisticola, ''Cisticola lateralis''
* Trilling cisticola, ''Cisticola woosnami''
* Chattering cisticola, ''Cisticola anonymus''
* Bubbling cisticola, ''Cisticola bulliens''
* Hunter's cisticola, ''Cisticola hunteri''
* Chubb's cisticola, ''Cisticola chubbi''
* Kilombero cisticola, ''Cisticola bakerorum''
* Black-lored cisticola, ''Cisticola nigriloris''
* Lazy cisticola, ''Cisticola aberrans''
* Rock-loving cisticola, ''Cisticola emini''
* Rattling cisticola, ''Cisticola chiniana''
* Boran cisticola, ''Cisticola bodessa''
* Churring cisticola, ''Cisticola njombe''
* Ashy cisticola, ''Cisticola cinereolus''
* Tana River cisticola, ''Cisticola restrictus''
* Tinkling cisticola, ''Cisticola rufilatus''
* Grey-backed cisticola, ''Cisticola subruficapilla''
* Wailing cisticola, ''Cisticola lais''
* Lynes's cisticola, ''Cisticola distinctus'' (sometimes considered as a subspecies of the wailing cistocola)
* Rufous-winged cisticola, ''Cisticola galactotes''
* Winding cisticola, ''Cisticola marginatus''
* Coastal cisticola, ''Cisticola haematocephalus''
* White-tailed cisticola, ''Cisticola anderseni''
* Ethiopian cisticola, ''Cisticola lugubris''
* Luapula cisticola, ''Cisticola luapula''
* Chirping cisticola, ''Cisticola pipiens''
* Carruthers's cisticola, ''Cisticola carruthersi''
* Levaillant's cisticola, ''Cisticola tinniens''
* Stout cisticola, ''Cisticola robustus''
* Aberdare cisticola, ''Cisticola aberdare''
* Croaking cisticola, ''Cisticola natalensis''
* Red-pate cisticola, ''Cisticola ruficeps''
* Dorst's cisticola, ''Cisticola guinea'' - formerly ''C. dorsti'' or included in ''C. ruficeps''
* Tiny cisticola, ''Cisticola nana''
* Short-winged cisticola, ''Cisticola brachypterus''
* Rufous cisticola, ''Cisticola rufus''
* Foxy cisticola, ''Cisticola troglodytes''
* Neddicky, ''Cisticola fulvicapilla''
* Long-tailed cisticola, ''Cisticola angustacauda''
* Black-tailed cisticola, ''Cisticola melanurus''
* Zitting cisticola, ''Cisticola juncidis''
* Socotra cisticola, ''Cisticola haesitatus''
* Madagascar cisticola, ''Cisticola cherina''
* Desert cisticola, ''Cisticola aridulus''
* Cloud cisticola, ''Cisticola textrix''
* Black-backed cisticola, ''Cisticola eximius''
* Dambo cisticola, ''Cisticola dambo''
* Pectoral-patch cisticola, ''Cisticola brunnescens''
* Pale-crowned cisticola, ''Cisticola cinnamomeus''
* Wing-snapping cisticola, ''Cisticola ayresii''
* Golden-headed cisticola, ''Cisticola exilis''

References

Further reading

* Nguembock B.; Fjeldsa J.; Tillier A.; Pasquet E. (2007): A phylogeny for the Cisticolidae (Aves: Passeriformes) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data, and a re-interpretation of a unique nest-building specialization. ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 42: 272–286.
*Ryan, Peter (2006). Family Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies). Pp. 378–492 in del Hoyo J., Elliott A. & Christie D.A. (2006) ''Handbook of the Birds of the World''. Volume 11. Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers'' Lynx Edicions, Barcelona

External links

Cisticola videos
on the Internet Bird Collection

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2719515

Cisticolidae
Bird genera