Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola juncidis
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zitting_cisticola
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Cisticolidae
Genus
Cisticola
Zitting Cisticola belongs to the family Cisticolidae, order Passeriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Zitting Cisticola faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat destruction and degradation of wetland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and drainage of marshlands have significantly reduced suitable breeding and foraging areas across its range, while climate change threatens to alter precipitation patterns critical for maintaining its preferred grassland and wetland habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dense grasslands, reed beds, marshes, and wet meadows, typically in areas with tall grasses and sedges near water sources. Also found in agricultural areas with suitable vegetation structure, including rice paddies, irrigation channels, and overgrown field margins.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Zitting Cisticola faces severe population declines due to widespread habitat destruction and degradation of wetland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and drainage of marshlands have significantly reduced suitable breeding and foraging areas across its range, while climate change threatens to alter precipitation patterns critical for maintaining its preferred grassland and wetland habitats.
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Wetland drainage and habitat loss
Climate change altering precipitation patterns
Overgrazing degrading grassland habitats
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/zitting-cisticola