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Zitting Cisticola
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Zitting Cisticola
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
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. |
cobra112, samiran88, Miss_Piggy, Noisette, uleko has marked this note useful
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- lousat
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(65489) - [2011-04-22 4:03]
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Hi Jose,welcome back! And what a timing o take this bird whit the caterpillar in the beak,very impressive sharpness,colors and light balance.Very well done! Happy Easter and thanks for share,Luciano
WOW! MF Jose is come back with an outstanding one! Impressive focus and sharp with tender colours and tones against a great BG. Best compliments and Happy Easter.
Roberto
Bonjour Jose,
La profondeur de champ ne me semble pas excellente mais cette scène de la vie sauvage est tout de même bien retituée sous un bon angle de prise de vue.
a bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard
Nice portrait of this nice bird, i rembeber the sounds well
TFS
J
Excellent photo, great sharpness and details,
TFS!
Samiran
Hallo Jose
Now this is a smart little birdie, and you have captured it so beautifully with the worm in its mouth. Even the "catch of the day" is seen with great clarity. Further to what I have said I want to the words of Roberto "Impressive focus". The catchlight in the eye is such a pleasure to look at. A really striking image. Thanks for sharing and Happy Easter to you. Best regards.
Anna
Hello Jose
lovely capture of this beautiful bird with a prey in his beak, great focus on his eye,
superb pose, amazing colors and composition
Have a great WE
Jacqueline
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- uleko
(10940)
- [2011-04-30 7:23]
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Hello Jose,
A nicely timed capture of this pretty little bird with prey. Great focus on the eye and beautiful colours against the soft background.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1173 W: 0 N: 1594]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(9508)![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 294 W: 6 N: 877]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(7664)