Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Other Names

  Fan-tailed Cisticola, Fan-tailed Warbler   Cisticole des joncs, Cisticole commune   Cistensänger   Buitrón, Buitrón Ibérico   Grässångare   Graszanger, Waaierstaartrietzanger   Beccamoschino

World: Extremely widespread missing only from North and South American and Antarctica.

Kenya: Locally common on short to medium grassland below 2000m.

Outside the breeding season these birds are very difficult to spot. They are almost completely silent and tend to skulk in vegetation. Breeding males are very conspicuous when displaying. They cruise backwards and forwards with a strongly undulating flight which lacks the wing-snapping of similar species. The high scratchy notes of their call coincide with the low points in their courtship flight.