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Zitting Cisticola


Zitting Cisticola
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1874 W: 245 N: 6145] (21884)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 400D (Rebel XTi), Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital ISO-800, Hoya 77mm UV Filter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-09-04 2:20
Viewed: 413
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Here's a Warbler from Spain. I took this on the same day as the sunset photo.

Thankyou very much Nick and Ivan for identifying this bird as a Zitting Cisticola!

Here's some info from wiki...

The Zitting Cisticola or Streaked Fantail Warbler(Cisticola juncidis), is an Old World warbler in the genus Cisticola. This genus is sometimes split off with various other southern warbler genera and given family status as the Cisticolidae. This species was previously known as Fan-tailed Warbler , but the current name gives consistency with the many tropical cisticola species.

It has a very wide breeding range including southern Europe, Africa outside the deserts and rainforest, and southern Asia down to northern Australia. It is mainly resident, but some East Asian populations migrate south to winter in warmer areas.


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.

Zitting Cisticolas are very small insectivorous birds. These small passerines are found in tall grassland habitats, often near water. 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, cobwebs, and grass. The Zitting Cisticola's nest is a cup shape with a canopy of tied-together leaves or grasses overhead for camouflage; 3-6 eggs are laid.

These warblers are brown above, heavily streaked with black. 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 is no great difference between the sexes or the eighteen geographical races.

Although this species is unlikely to be confused with other warblers in Europe, where it is the only cisticola, it is very similar to other members of its genus. It is best distinguished from its many African relatives by its zit-zit-zit song, given in flight. The song is always the easiest identification criterion for this genus.

These birds are more easily heard than seen, and because of their small size (about 10 cm) not always easy to recognise, particularly outside the breeding season when they seldom emerge from their grasses.


Thanks!
Heaven, soccer, Janice, cataclysta, Seabird, eqshannon, goldyrs, jaycee, Juyona, jrobertop, jconceicao, rousettus, pekkavalo1, Adanac, Jamesp, SelenE has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Jamesp: Hidejoey 1 09-05 10:14
To nglen: Thanks!joey 1 09-04 03:21
To Argus: Zitt Zitt!joey 1 09-04 03:20
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Critiques [Translate]

Merhaba Joe,netlik ve ışık çok güzel.Yeşil artalanla çok hoş bir kare olmuş.Kuşumuz çok şirin durmuş,ellerine sağlık :)

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2129 W: 9 N: 5957] (22516)
  • [2008-09-04 2:57]
  • [+]

Hi Joe. I have had a look on the internet the site called www.birdsofeurope.co.uk and i think it may be a Zitting Cisticola Warbler ( Cisticola juncidis ) have a look. Anyway it a cute looking bird which you have taken in a very nice pose on the dried plant. With good detail and natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hi Joe,

The bird is nice and sharp, good feather detail, exposure, Dof and the background compliments the subject. Well done.

Robin

Beautiful shot Joe. Looks as if it could be a young one, short wings and tail feathers?
Great pose looking back at you with great exposure and detail.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2577 W: 170 N: 7864] (24859)
  • [2008-09-04 3:16]

Hello Joe,
What a superb capture of this little Warbler against a plain background. Great focus and I love its pose. Very fine sharp details too and lovely colours of the plumage. Well composed too!
Many thanks and cheers, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 147 N: 7948] (24747)
  • [2008-09-04 3:17]
  • [+]

Hello Joe,
A superb capture of a juvenile Zitting Cisticola in a technically first class image with a great bokeh BG.
You must have been able to get quite close to get this good shot. I can imagine the parents were flying around making their 'zitt, zitt' sounds while you were taking this.
TFS this beauty,
Ivan

Hi Joe,
A nice capture of this beautiful Spanish Warbler. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Joe!

You present us a nice picture, held in natural colours and rich with fine details. Everything looks perfect to me from the technical side. I personally would prefer a more natural looking background - that could be blurred, too - than an almost uniform one. But - as many things in photography - this is personal.

Kind regards

Markus

Joe,

Awesome pic! The composition is good and the sharpness shows great detail of the subject. an OOF BG and DOF also add value and clarity to the image.

TFS,
Sheriff

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3464 W: 145 N: 5942] (17790)
  • [2008-09-04 3:47]

Hi Joe - this is great!
The little Warbler's details are nice and sharp and clear.
Super colours, and I love how he's standing on the stem.
Really well composed, great framing and excellent notes.
Well done
Janice

Lovely captured and good composition with clarity, colour and details.
Best wishes,
Achim

Hi Joe
Almost perfectly sharp but with perfect OOF background and perfect composition. I also like the legant black frame
Best wishes
Krzysztof

The bird is nice and sharp, good feather detail,

Hi, Joe,

beautiful capture with great details, colours and composition. thanks for sharing this beauty!

chrs,
Man Yee

Some day I hope to be old or live old enough let's say to be able to tell my friends..."I knew that Joey when he was just a kid". Naturally I will be talking about you because you will have gone so far . I wonder Joey...did I ever ask what you feel like going into later in life or do you still not know for sure?
bob

Simple, crystal clear, absolutely Joey!
A joy to see, L'il Bro!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1902 W: 8 N: 4957] (16017)
  • [2008-09-04 9:48]

Hi Joe,

I haven't seen this Warbler before - thank you for the introduction. If he's like our Warblers you must have been patient until he stopped flitting around. Beautiful pose, colors, details, and backgroud. I love the eye and the feathers.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2102 W: 6 N: 2113] (13565)
  • [2008-09-04 10:17]

Hola Joe,
estupenda calidad,
fino bg, foco y perfecto plumaje...
percha hermosa,
saludos

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 72 N: 2864] (9457)
  • [2008-09-04 10:23]

Hello Joe,
Excellent photo in a perfect pose. Colours, POV and sharpness are amazing. Wonderful details. Very beautiful BG.
Kind regards,
Peter

Hello Joe.
Great capture of this small bird!
Excellent sharpness and colors.
Very good POV and luminosity.
Well done!
José Roberto

Hello Joe,

Beautiful photo of Cisticola Juncidis.
Lighting,composition and detail are excellent.
Good sharpness.

hello Joe
this is very beautiful warbler. you captured it with a great shot. focus and POV great. but eyes contact also superb. nicely composed and framed with informative notes. TFS, best wishes
Ahmet

Hi Joe,
Very good picture of this Zitting Cisticola Warbler with great pose and composition, sharp details, good eye contact and nicely blurred BG.
TFS
Cheers
Pekka

PS
Visited Elmley yesterday. All the fresh water bonds are unfortunately comtaminated by Blue-Green Algae. Few weeks ago there were hundreds of waders some of which very rare (like the American Golden Plover I shot). Now the site is empty of waders (saw one Barn Owl though and few hawks) and they have drained the ponds trying to get rid of the poisonous nuisanse. I will will try to keep up to date with the situation.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1800 W: 29 N: 5223] (17114)
  • [2008-09-04 20:19]

Hi Joe,
Outstanding shot of this cute looking Warbler with such amazing details on its plumage. Fine pose captured against a superb BG and I like its alert expression. Immaculate sharpness and a perfect DOF. The lighting is very well handled and the composition is top-class. Thanks for sharing this fine image.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15128)
  • [2008-09-04 22:11]

Hello Joe,
Extremely cute little one, shown sharply with your great image, thanks.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1297 W: 0 N: 5080] (15138)
  • [2008-09-04 23:43]
  • [+]

Hi Joe

Great work - were you in a hide? Excellent pose and detail and great OFF BG.

James

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-09-05 19:34]

Hello Joey, Superb just superb. Hats off man. You have all quality to become a great photographer. Just brilliant and no more words. ganesh

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1422 W: 127 N: 5219] (23113)
  • [2008-09-07 8:22]

Very well done, Joe! Perfect pose and sharpness, great background and great exposure, good work my friend!

Mario

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2422 W: 63 N: 3988] (12860)
  • [2008-09-07 23:47]

Hi Joe,
Very nice capture of this cute little fellow. Pose you captured, shallow DOF, neat background, composition and lighting look so nice. TFS
All the best,
Selen

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