Family CISTICOLIDAE Sundevall, 1872

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• Cisticolinae Sundevall, 1872.

Introduction

Cisticolas are small grass-frequenting birds. The family is large, with 110 species in 21 genera. The classification of the group is contentious: it was elevated to full family status by Sibley & Ahlquist (1990), as recognised here, although Schodde & Mason (1999) retained cisticolas within the Sylviidae. The family is represented in Australia by seven ultrataxa representing two species in a single genus. The centre of biodiversity for the family is shared between Africa and Asia although the group extends through Europe and into the Indonesian Archipelago, New Guinea and to some south-west Pacific island chains.

In Australia there are several endemic subspecies each restricted by habitat and isolation. Like other grassland species, e.g. alaudids, the males perform elaborate aerial displays through flight and song. Males rise from their grassed environment to perform courtship song and territory defence displays, often at great heights above the vegetation.

The species are gregarious, usually being seen in small sedentary family groups. Cisticolas have seasonal differences in their plumage: the longer tails and plainer plumage of winter are moulted in summer to shorter tails and, in the males, a golden colour on the head. Food is procured within the foliage of their habitat and is taken by gleaning and snatching. The species occupy areas of lignum, samphire salt marsh, tropical eucalypt woodlands, tussock grass fields and human unattended parkland across northern and eastern Australia.
is a very elaborate affair. Each nest is constructed using grasses and living leaves. It is a ball-shaped structure with a side entrance; leaves and grasses are carefully stitched into the structure giving extra strength and camouflage. Cobwebs are also often incorporated into the nest. The chamber is lined with finer grasses and feathers. Three or four eggs constitute a clutch; these have a base colour of blue and each egg is spotted and dotted by brown or bronze.

Diagnosis

'Cisticolas … differ from core warblers in their emarginately flat-tipped vomers, subulate maxillo-palatine processes and relatively broad medial palatine plate …'.

Diagnosis References

Schodde, R. & Mason, I.J. 1999. The Directory of Australian Birds : Passerines. A Taxonomic and Zoogeographic Atlas of the Biodiversity of Birds in Australia and its Territories. Collingwood, Australia : CSIRO Publishing x 851 pp.

General References

Schodde, R. & Mason, I.J. 1999. The Directory of Australian Birds : Passerines. A Taxonomic and Zoogeographic Atlas of the Biodiversity of Birds in Australia and its Territories. Collingwood, Australia : CSIRO Publishing x 851 pp.

Sibley, C.G. & Ahlquist, J.E. 1990. Phylogeny and Classification of Birds. A Study in Molecular Evolution. New Haven : Yale University Press xxiii 976 pp.

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