Cisticolas & Allies

The Cisticolidae family comprises around 160 species of small, insectivorous warblers predominantly found in the warmer southern areas of the Old World, especially Africa where most species are located, extending through tropical Asia to Australasia, with one species breeding in Europe. Historically, they were categorized with the Sylviidae family but now stand as a separate group. These warblers are usually challenging to spot due to their non-descript brown or grey feathers and their preference for open habitats like grasslands. Often, their distinctive songs are more reliable for identification than their appearance. The family, introduced by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1872, comprises 26 genera and 168 species, including the well-known Cisticola and Prinia genera, with some debate and research supporting the reclassification of certain species within these genera. The family showcases a variety of warblers, many with their own unique genus, and a rich diversity, from the tailorbirds of the genus Orthotomus to the monotypic species like the Socotra warbler.