Cisticolas

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imogenw33
Cisticolas

I suspect these are both golden-headed cisticolas but just maybe one is a zitting? Taken 2 weeks ago on the Atherton Tablelands. One of my bird books says zittings are seen there and the other says they are not.

Annie W
Annie W's picture

Really beautiful images Imogen!   Wouldn't it be nice if all reference books agreed with each other, can be frustrating smiley.  Two of my reference books (Morcombe & an Australian Museum publication) indicate both are found Atherton Tablelands - but both my books appear to have their illustrations reversed from each other!

My two cents worth, I think the first is a non-breeding Golden-headed and the second a Zitting.  I wish we had them here on the main part of Tasmania, but I don't get to see them in the field so to speak...so more than happy to be corrected by someone more experienced than myself.

West Coast Tasmania

ihewman
ihewman's picture

Look for white tips on the tail feathers in a Zitting Cisticola (apparently hard to see sometimes). Also, the ZC has a buzzing, insect-like call and GHC does that drawn out, squeaky call with a sweet tweet at the end... both of their calls are completely different and are usefull for ID. As far as I'm concerned, I agree with Ruby.

Brandon (aka ihewman)

pacman
pacman's picture

Pizzey & Knight 2012 says Zitting Cisticola range - coastal e Q from Princess Charlotte Bay s to Curtis I; so it is in your area but on the coast; I question whether it would be on the A Tableland; #2 is also too golden on the body for Zitting

Peter

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