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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.

Regions

Categories

Barred Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes fasciolatus
A photo of a Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica)

Bar-throated Apalis

Apalis thoracica
A photo of a Black-chested Prinia (Prinia flavicans)

Black-chested Prinia

Prinia flavicans

Black-headed Apalis

Apalis melanocephala

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Chirinda Apalis

Apalis chirindensis

Chirping Cisticola

Cisticola pipiens
A photo of a Cinnamon-breasted Warbler (Euryptila subcinnamomea)

Cinnamon-breasted Warbler

Euryptila subcinnamomea

Cloud Cisticola

Cisticola textrix
A photo of a Croaking Cisticola (Cisticola natalensis)

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Drakensberg Prinia

Prinia hypoxantha
A photo of a Fan-tailed Warbler (Cisticola juncidis)

Fan-tailed Warbler

Cisticola juncidis
A photo of a Green-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura)

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops
A photo of a Grey-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brevicaudata)

Grey-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brevicaudata

Grey-backed Cisticola

Cisticola subruficapilla

Karoo Eremomela

Eremomela gregalis
A photo of a Karoo Prinia (Prinia maculosa)

Karoo Prinia

Prinia maculosa

Lazy Cisticola

Cisticola aberrans
A photo of a Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)

Levaillant's Cisticola

Cisticola tinniens

Luapula Cisticola

Cisticola luapula

Namaqua Warbler

Phragmacia substriata
A photo of a Neddicky (Cisticola fulvicapilla)

Neddicky

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Pale-crowned Cisticola

Cisticola cinnamomeus
A photo of a Rattling Cisticola (Cisticola chiniana)

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana
A photo of a Red-faced Cisticola (Cisticola erythrops)

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Red-winged Prinia

Prinia erythroptera

Roberts's Warbler

Oreophilais robertsi

Rudd's Apalis

Apalis ruddi
A photo of a Rufous-eared Warbler (Malcorus pectoralis)

Rufous-eared Warbler

Malcorus pectoralis

Rufous-winged Cisticola

Cisticola galactotes

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi
A photo of a Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Tinkling Cisticola

Cisticola rufilatus
A photo of a Wailing Cisticola (Cisticola lais)

Wailing Cisticola

Cisticola lais

Wing-snapping Cisticola

Cisticola ayresii

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis
A photo of a Yellow-breasted Apalis (Apalis flavida)

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Apalis flavida
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