The zitting cisticola is a small bird found in southern Europe, Africa and southern Asia, whose range extends to northern Australia.

In Europe its range, like that of many other species of birds, insects and plants, is expanding northwards, probably as a result of global warming.

It is Malta’s smallest breeding bird and is known as bufula tal-imrewħa. The brown insect-eating bird started to breed in the Maltese islands in 1973 and is now very common in fields and open areas. The pouch-like nest is built in clumps of grass.

It is easy to spot this bird in the breeding season. The males spend a lot of time in the air displaying energetically: they fly around their territory constantly zigzagging and ‘zitting’ loudly.

Up to a few years ago, the zitting cisticola was known as the fan-tailed warbler

During winter they tend to sulk in the vegetation and keep themselves well hidden. There is little difference between males and females and when the males are not displaying, it is difficult to tell the two sexes apart.

Up to a few years ago, the zitting cisticola was known as the fan-tailed warbler. Its name was changed to bring it in line with the other cisticola species to which it is related and to avoid confusion with an American bird which is also known as the fan-tailed warbler. Cisticolas are no longer considered as warblers and have been assigned a family of their own.

The male starts to build one or more nests and invites females to finish his work. Males can be polygamous or monogamous.

The female then lays three to six eggs which hatch within 10 days. As soon as the young hatch, the female leaves the male’s territory and probably breeds with another male. The males tend to stay within the same territory. Young birds have been recorded breeding in the same season during which they were born.

Cisticolas are African birds. Of the 45 cisticola species, only two do not live in Africa: one is found in Madagascar and the other in Asia and Australia.

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