Cisticolidae

The Cisticolidae family of small passerine birds is a group of about 110 warblers found mainly in warmer southern regions of the Old World. They are often included within the Old World warbler family Sylviidae.

This family probably originated in Africa, which has the majority of species, but there are representatives of the family across tropical Asia into Australasia, and one species, the Zitting Cisticola, even breeds in Europe.

These are generally very small birds of drab brown or grey appearance found in open country such as grassland or scrub. They are often difficult to see and many species are similar in appearance, so the song is often the best identification guide.

These are insectivorous birds which nest low in vegetation.

Species list in taxonomic order
Based on Del Hoyo et al. (2006)

Subfamily Neomixinae

 * Genus Neomixis - jeries (Genus basal to all other Cisticolidae)
 * Common Jery, Neomixis tenella
 * Green Jery, Neomixis viridis
 * Stripe-throated Jery, Neomixis striatigula

Subfamily Eremomelinae

 * Genus Micromacronus
 * Visayan Miniature-Babbler, Micromacronus leytensis
 * Mindanao Miniature-Babbler, Micromacronus sordidus


 * Genus Eremomela


 * Genus Drymocichla
 * Red-winged Grey Warbler, Drymocichla incana


 * Genus Schistolais
 * White-chinned Prinia or Warbler Schistolais leucopogon
 * Sierra Leone Prinia or Warbler Schistolais leontica


 * Genus Oreophilais
 * Roberts' Prinia or Briar Warbler, Oreophilais robertsi


 * Genus Phragmacia
 * Namaqua Prinia or Warbler, Phragmacia substriata


 * Genus Urolais
 * Green Longtail, Urolais epichlora


 * Genus Oreolais
 * Black-collared Apalis, Oreolais pulcher
 * Ruwenzori Apalis, Oreolais ruwenzorii


 * Genus Artisornis
 * Long-billed Tailorbird, Artisornis moreaui
 * African Tailorbird, Artisornis metopias


 * Genus Poliolais
 * White-tailed Warbler Poliolais lopezi


 * Genus Calamonastes
 * Grey Wren-Warbler, Calamonastes simplex
 * Miombo Wren-Warbler, Calamonastes undosus
 * Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Calamonastes stierlingi
 * Barred Wren-Warbler, Calamonastes fasciolatus


 * Genus Camaroptera
 * Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Camaroptera superciliaris
 * Olive-green Camaroptera, Camaroptera chloronota
 * Grey-backed Camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura
 * Hartert's Camaroptera, Camaroptera harterti


 * Genus Spiloptila
 * Cricket Warbler, Spiloptila clamans


 * Genus Phyllolais
 * Buff-bellied Warbler, Phyllolais pulchella


 * Genus Apalis, the apalises. (Around 26 species; Genus paraphyletic)
 * Bar-throated Apalis, Apalis thoracica
 * Yellow-throated Apalis, Apalis flavigularis
 * Namuli Apalis, Apalis lynesi
 * Taita Apalis, Apalis fuscigularis
 * Rudd's Apalis, Apalis ruddi
 * Yellow-breasted Apalis, Apalis flavida
 * Brown-tailed Apalis, Apalis (flavida) viridiceps
 * Lowland Masked-Apalis, Apalis binotata
 * Mountain Masked-Apalis, Apalis personata
 * Black-throated Apalis, Apalis jacksoni
 * White-winged Apalis, Apalis chariessa
 * Black-capped Apalis, Apalis nigriceps
 * Black-headed Apalis, Apalis melanocephala
 * Chirinda Apalis, Apalis chirindensis
 * Chestnut-throated Apalis, Apalis porphyrolaema
 * Kabobo Apalis, Apalis kaboboensis
 * Chapin's Apalis, Apalis chapini
 * Sharpe's Apalis, Apalis sharpii
 * Buff-throated Apalis, Apalis rufogularis
 * Kungwe Apalis, Apalis argentea
 * Karamoja Apalis, Apalis karamojae
 * Bamenda Apalis, Apalis bamendae
 * Gosling's Apalis, Apalis goslingi
 * Grey Apalis, Apalis cinerea
 * Brown-headed Apalis, Apalis alticola

Subfamily Priniinae

 * Genus Orthotomus, the tailorbirds (around 13 species)


 * Genus Prinia, the prinias (around 28 species)

Subfamily Cisticolinae

 * Genus Euryptila
 * Cinnamon-breasted Warbler Euryptila subcinnamomea


 * Genus Scepomycter - sometimes merged into Bathmocercus
 * Winifred's Warbler Scepomycter winifredae
 * Rubeho Warbler Scepomycter rubehoensis


 * Genus Incana
 * Socotra Warbler, Incana incanus


 * Genus Malcorus
 * Rufous-eared Warbler, Malcorus pectoralis


 * Genus Bathmocercus - rufous-warblers
 * Black-headed Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus cerviniventris
 * Black-faced Rufous Warbler Bathmocercus rufus


 * Genus Hypergerus
 * Oriole Warbler, Hypergerus atriceps


 * Genus Eminia
 * Grey-capped Warbler, Eminia lepida


 * Genus Cisticola, the cisticolas (around 45 species)



In other families
Belonging to the Bernieridae (Malagasy warblers): Belonging to Sylvia/Parrotbill clade.
 * Genus Hartertula - formerly in Neomixis
 * Genus Rhopophilus
 * White-browed Chinese Warbler, Rhopophilus pekinensis
 * Belonging to Cettiidae:
 * Genus Scotocerca
 * Scrub Warbler or Streaked Scrub Warbler, Scotocerca inquieta