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Zitting Cisticola catches a spider/grasshopper

on 15th May 2009

We are showcasing the food preferences of the Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis), a rather small warbler of grassy areas. Although once plentiful in Singapore, it is still a common resident. It prefers open grassy areas and generally not found in parks and gardens.

The image above (left) is by Calvin Chang a.k.a. deswitch showing the cisticola with a spider in its bill, photographed in May 2009.

The other image (above right) by Walad Jamaludin shows the cisticola with a grasshopper.

Thee Zitting Cisticola eats mainly insects and small invertebrates including spiders. Spiders are one of the main foods for chicks, the more common ones being grasshoppers and caterpillars.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

5 Responses

  1. Two days ago I witnessed, shortly after mating, a Zitting cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) hang upside down from a grass stem, its partner hanging upside down whilst holding onto the first bird. In this way, the two birds stayed together motionless, to the point where I thought they might have died, for over 60 seconds. Any ideas anyone?

    1. It has been reported that “Some polygamous species have more protracted copulation, perhaps because males perch atop the female for longer in an attempt to maximize the chance of fertilisation” (Ryan et al., 2006, Handbook of the Birds of the World vol 11). What you saw may be part of this behaviour.

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