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Zitting Cisticola | Cisticola juncidis
The Zitting Cisticola is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Cisticolidae bird family group which includes birds such as African Warblers. The description for the Zitting Cisticola (Latin name Cisticola juncidis) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Cisticola juncidis can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 664 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 838. You will find a picture of the Zitting Cisticola on page 912. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. This bird is known as Fan-tailed Cisticola in the Roberts 6th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Zitting Cisticola between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Zitting Cisticola is known in Afrikaans as Landeryklopkloppie. The Zitting Cisticola has a height of 12 cms and weighs around 9 gms. The head is coloured black, brown while the bill is coloured black. The Cisticola juncidis has a white coloured throat, pink, brown legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is black, brown Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are pink, brown Throat is white Back is brown Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground The Zitting Cisticola is usually seen hunting for food within the tree foliage This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . The Cisticola juncidis forages mainly on the ground or at the base of trees, and low down in the shrubs eating mostly fruits and seeds. Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Zitting Cisticola is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 to 5 eggs and they are coloured white. The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae. The Zitting Cisticola is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees. The bird is mainly found in the Savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds. This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Zitting Cisticola is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. This bird is usually seen in small family groups or in large flocks |
