Zitting Cisticola

Cistensänger ( Cisticola juncidis )

Den with a length of only 10 centimeters surprisingly small Cistensänger ( Cisticola juncidis ) can be recognized by the stepped, blackish and at the end of light fringed tail, which is often broad. In the breeding season the males have strong, dark spots on her back while she otherwise, like the females, appear striped rather indistinct. The leather- yellow underside is more intensely colored in the female. Forehead and top are slightly striped dark on lehmgelben reason, an excess eye-streak is only hinted at. The legs are orange to dark beige.

Subspecies

• C. j. juncidis comes in Mediterranean France, Corsica, and Sardinia and Crete, in Turkey and in Egypt.
• The distribution areas of C. j. cisticola lie in western France, Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands and North West Africa.
• C. j. neurotica can be found among others in Iraq and western Iran.

• Three other subspecies are in tropical Africa, three in India and Nepal, six from East Asia to the south of Indonesia and three in Australia known.

Habitat

The Cistensänger benefits in its huge distribution area mainly open, not too dry regions with medium-high vegetation, as well as agricultural areas and border areas of reed and rush stocks. Habitats near water are preferred. Local breeds the kind in mainly populated by Salicornia salt marshes.

Reproduction

The Cistensänger breeds in open, treeless terrain with tall grass, sedges and rushes stocks. He also uses wheat fields and fallow lands with grain and high herb. Cistensänger are polygamous breeders; the single male enters a couple's relationship with up to three females. In the south of its range, the breeding season begins in March and in the north in April when the grass is high enough. It comes a year to two broods and sometimes three broods, so that the breeding season is often only completed in July.

The courtship flight of the male is unmistakable. In about 20 m height it flies undulating up and down each time this " wave crest " be loud " zipp " sound to let. This monotonous song is heard at short intervals from dawn to dusk. It is typical of the Cistensänger that the male in its breeding grounds several incomplete nests builds, which are then completed by each female. The nest is low between blades of grass, in bushes, sometimes in grain and has the shape of an elongated bag, but which is pulled to one side far into a kind of vaulting. The interior is usually lined with wool plants.

The eggs are spindle-shaped. The coloring of eggs varies: There is, white, blue, pink, unspotted and spotted eggs. Incubation period is 12-14 days, it breeds only the female parent bird. Breeding begins after the filing of the last ice. The young birds are fed by the female alone. The young birds leave after twelve to fifteen days airworthy the nest and are self-employed after another ten to twenty days.

Food

Delicate insects and spiders are tracked when roaming the thicket.