Scientific Name: Cisticola juncidis
Malay Name: Cak-Tinting Kecil Biasa
Chinese Name: 棕扇尾莺
Range: Found from southern Europe to Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and northern Australia
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: cisticola, juncidis, uropygialis, terrestris, neuroticus, cursitans, salimalii, omalurus, brunniceps, tinnabulans, nigrostriatus, malaya, fuscicapilla, constans, leanyeri, normani, laveryi.
Local Subspecies: malaya
Size: 10.5-12 cm
Identification: Resembles Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler and Lanceolated Warbler but much smaller. Adult has buffish-brown upperparts with blackish streaks, rufous rump and whitish underparts with rufous-buff wash on flanks.
Similar looking species: Lanceolated Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler
Habitat: Grasslands, marshes and open habitats.
Behaviour/Ecology: Usually skulks in long grass. During breeding season, male will hover and circle in the air.
Local Status: Common resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2017)
Location: Suitable habitats like Kranji Marsh, Punggol Barat, Seletar, Lorong Halus, Coney Island, Tampines Eco Green, Pulau Ubin and Tuas South.
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
- Bird Calls of Singapore (Birders' Stories)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Zitting Cisticola)
References:
BirdLife International. (2017). Cisticola juncidis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22713491A111070621.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Zitting Cisticola. Retrieved on June 12, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/zitting-cisticola.