Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis (Rafinesque, 1810)

Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis, breeds across south-west Europe, Africa, southern Asia, eastern China, Japan, the Philippines, Wallacea, and northern and eastern Australia. It is a small passerine of grasslands and other open country. The bird is recognised by its rufous rump, the absence of gold on the collar, and a brownish tail with a white tip. In the breeding season, males perform a zigzag flight display and give regular zit calls. They make a pouch nest hung within a grass clump.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Cisticolidae — Cisticolas & Allies

Breeding range

Palearctic, Africa, Oriental Region, Australasia: sw Europe, Africa through s Asia to e China, Japan, Philippines, Wallacea and n, e Australia