Colours
Distinguishing features
The Zitting Cisticola is brown above, heavily streaked with black markings. The underparts are whitish, and the tail is broad, white-tipped and flicked frequently, giving rise to the alternative name for the species.
The adult males have less crown streaking and more back marking than the females, but there are no great difference between the sexes or the eighteen geographical races.
In the non-breeding season, they tend to skulk within the grass and can be hard to spot. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 10 cm (Length of specimen)
Wingspan
- Wingspan data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
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Animalia:
Golden-headed Cisticola (species: Cisticola (Cisticola) exilis)
The absence of a nuchal collar separate the Zitting Cisticola from the Golden-headed Cisticola.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
This species is found mainly in grassland habitats, often near water.
Most populations are resident, but some East Asian populations migrate south to warmer areas in winter. In the Himalayas, they ascent to about 1,900 metres during summer but are below 1,300 metres in the winter. This species is a rare vagrant to northern Europe, mostly as a spring overshoot. Its European range is generally expanding, although northern populations are especially susceptible to hard winters. (Wikipedia)
Diet
They eat insects.
