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Golden-headed Cisticola

Cisticola exilis

Description:

In breeding season, the male Golden-headed Cisticola has a golden-orange head, which is crested when calling, with a paler chin and throat, and a boldly streaked black to dark grey and golden body. The tail is black, with paler tips, and is shorter during breeding season. Females resemble non-breeding males, with buff-brown upper parts, heavily streaked black and dark brown, with a golden-buff rump and nape of neck. The underparts are cream with buff tints, the wings are black, with each feather edged buff. Young birds resemble the female but are duller.

Habitat:

The Golden-headed Cisticola lives in sub-coastal areas, wetlands, swamp margins, wet grasslands, rivers, and irrigated farmland. It prefers tangled vegetation close to the ground, but breeding males may be seen singing from tall weeds or other shrubs.

Notes:

Feeding: Golden-headed Cisticolas feed quietly and inconspicuously on insects taken from the ground amongst tall grasses. They also feed on the seeds from the grasses among which they live. Breeding: The Golden-headed Cisticola builds a rounded nest with a side entrance near the top, from fine grasses, plant down and spiders' web. Leaves are usually stitched to the outer surface and the nest is lined with soft plant down. Both the male and female help in nest-building although the female incubates the eggs on her own.

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3 Comments

MacChristiansen
MacChristiansen 10 years ago

Thanks KD & Shanna

ShannaB
ShannaB 10 years ago

Nice one Mac, they are SO hard to take photos of... so small and quick!

kdpicturemaker
kdpicturemaker 10 years ago

Gorgeous!

MacChristiansen
Spotted by
MacChristiansen

Queensland, Australia

Spotted on Jan 19, 2014
Submitted on Jan 19, 2014

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