Taxonomy and systematics Zitting cisticola

c. j. uropygialis (dakar, senegal)

the zitting cisticola described naturalist constantine samuel rafinesque in 1810 , given binomial name sylvia juncidis. type locality campofelice di roccella in sicily. current genus name cisticola ancient greek kisthos, rock-rose , , latin colere, dwell . specific juncidis latin , diminutive of iuncus, reed .

across wide distribution range, several variations in populations have been noted , many 18 subspecies recognized. differ in calls, plumage , size , have been considered full species in taxonomic treatments. nominate form found in southern france, greece, turkey, sicily, corsica , egypt while western portugal , spain have cisticola. population in israel, syria, iraq , iran neuroticus while northern , eastern african population uropygialis , perennius (further south). gabon, angola, , southern africa home terrestris. population in western ghats of india, salimalii, not show seasonal tail length variation in cursitans of plains of india , dry-zone of sri lanka, has longer tail in non-breeding season. population malaya found in southern southeast asia, tinnabulans further north in southern china while brunniceps found in korea , japan. other populations include nigrostriatus (philippines), constans (sulawesi), fuscicapilla (east java), leanyeri (northern australia), normani (northwest queensland) , laveryi (northeast australia).

this genus split off various other southern warbler genera , given family status cisticolidae. species known fan-tailed warbler, current name gives consistency many tropical cisticola species, , avoids confusion american species named fan-tailed warbler.