The cisticolas, prinias and tailorbirds (family Cisticolidae) are a large and diverse family of birds belonging to the order Passeriformes, distributed across warm regions of the Old World. They are small, long-tailed, generally drab birds found in grasslands and scrub, except for some colorful species. Several species sport similar plumages but very distinctive calls and songs, which are the best trait to successfuly identify them.

The family comprises 163 species in 26 genera. Basal genus Neomixis (3 species) includes birds known as jeries endemic to Madagascar, whereas Micromacronus (2 species) is restricted to the Philippines and known as plumed-warblers. A number of small genera are endemic to the Afrotropical realm, including Drymocichla (1 species), Schistolais (2 species), Oreophilais (1 species), Phragmacia (1 species), Urolais (1 species), Artisornis (2 species), Poliolais (1 species), Calamonastes (4 species), Spiloptila (1 species), Phyllolais (1 species), Euryptila (1 species), Scepomycter (1 species), Incana (1 species), Malcorus (1 species), Hypergerus (1 species), Eminia (1 species) and Bathmocercus (2 species). Larger genera also restricted to Subsaharan Africa include the eremopteras in genus Eremoptera (10 species); the camaropteras in genus Camaroptera (4 species); and the apalis within genera Oreolais (2 species) and Apalis (25 species). Instead, the tailorbirds, belonging to genus Orthotomus (13 species), are restricted to the Indomalayan realm. The large genera Prinia (29 species), including birds known as prinias, and Cisticola (53 species), commonly known as cisticolas, are both distributed all across the Old World, including the only species of the family found in Europe within the last genus.

Talatakely in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, 22 Nov 2023

Common jery

Neomixis tenella

Endemic to most forested areas of Madagascar, where it is the most widespread of all three jeries. Small and energetic, and often found on mixed-species flocks. I have seen this species in Madagascar.

Mpala River Camp, Laikipia, Kenya, 28 Jan 2024

Bleating camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Found in scrub and savanna across Subsaharan Africa, with a ‘green-backedbrachyura form distributed along east Africa and a ‘gray-backedbrevicaudata widespread elsewhere. I have encountered this species in Kenya.

Wildebeest Eco Camp in Nairobi, Kenya, 25 Jan 2024

Buff-bellied warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Distributed in the dry savanna along the Rift Valley and some areas in Sahel. Inconspicuous, plain and small inhabitant of Acacia trees. I have encountered this species in Nairobi city in Kenya.

Kilimandege House in Lake Naivasha, Kenya, 2 Feb 2024

Yellow-breasted apalis

Apalis flavida

Found in forest edge across Subsaharan Africa. Slender, long-tailed and featuring a red eye and a yellow chest with a variable black band. I have briefly seen this species in Kenya.

Arabuko Sokoke National Park, Kenya, 9 Feb 2024

Black-headed apalis

Apalis melanocephala

Distributed along midland moist scrub and coastal rainforest in east Africa. I have seen this species in a mixed-species flock in Arabuko Sokoke forest in Kenya.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, Kerala, India, 3 Jan 2025

Common tailorbird

Orthotomus sutorius

Very common garden bird along the Indian Subcontinent and south China south to the Malay Peninsula and Java. Its song is a usual part of the soundscape of many Asian towns. I have observed this species in Singapore, Borneo, Vietnam, Thailand and India.

Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, 12 Aug 2024

Dark-necked tailorbird

Orthotomus atrogularis

Found in lowland forests and gardens of Indochina and some parts of Borneo and Sumatra. As other tailorbirds, usually skulky and best detected by its song. I have seen this species in Vietnam.

Male in Sepilok Forest Edge Resort in Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia, 14 Jul 2024

Ashy tailorbird

Orthotomus ruficeps

Found in mangrove and lowland forests of the Malay Peninsula, the south tip of Indochina, and patchily in Borneo, Java and Sumatra. Sexes have different throat colors. I have encountered this species in Singapore and Borneo.

Sepilok Forest Edge Resort in Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia, 14 Jul 2024

Rufous-tailed tailorbird

Orthotomus sericeus

Inhabitant of forest edge in the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra and Palawan. Although it usually stays in the dense scrub, it sometimes behaves as a flycatcher. I have seen this species in Borneo and the Philippines.

Ta Nung valley near Da Lat, Vietnam, 6 Aug 2024

Hill prinia

Prinia superciliaris

Distributed along montane scrub and forest edge in south China and north Indochina with disjunct populations in Da Lat plateau in Vietnam, in the highest peak of Peninsular Malaysia and in west Sumatra. Large, with a very long tail. I have seen this species in Da Lat in Vietnam.

Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam, 10 Aug 2024

Rufescent prinia

Prinia rufescens

Distributed along grassland and open areas of Indochina and the Malay Peninsula. As other prinias, it is a small bird with a strong presence due to the loudness of its song. I have seen this species in Vietnam.

Banana Island in Hanoi, Vietnam, 5 Aug 2024

Gray-breasted prinia

Prinia hodgsonii

Distributed along scrub vegetation of fores edge across the Indian Subcontinent and Indochina. Dark in color only during the breeding season. I have seen this species in Hanoi in Vietnam.

Lusail Boulevard near Doha, Qatar, 12 Feb 2024

Delicate prinia

Prinia lepida

Mostly found in oasis areas along dry country from south Turkey aeast to Assam in India. Very similar to the graceful prinia, which has a close contact range in some areas of the Persian Gulf. I have seen this species in Qatar and Dubai.

Banana Island in Hanoi, Vietnam, 5 Aug 2024

Yellow-bellied prinia

Prinia flaviventris

Common in grassy areas of southeast Asia, east to the Indus River, noth to Taiwan and Zhejiang in China and south to Borneo, Sumatra and Java. I have seen this species in Borneo and Vietnam.

Kudavellari paddyfields, Kerala, India, 4 Jan 2025

Ashy prinia

Prinia socialis

Distributed across the Indian Subcontinent in good numbers in most areas. Relatively confiding and fearless, singing in wires and twigs in the open. I have seen this species in the backwaters of south India.

Mpala River Camp, Laikipia, Kenya, 31 Jan 2024

Tawny-flanked prinia

Prinia subflava

Widespread along Subsaharan Africa, occurring along scrub and grassy areas of many different habitats. Plain and long-tailed, skulking through the low vegetation. I have seen this species in Kenya.

Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, 19 Aug 2024

Plain prinia

Prinia inornata

Distributed along open areas of the Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Java and east China. Common across numerous habitats, where its insect-like call is part of the soundscape. I have seen this species in Thailand and India.

Karura Forest in Nairobi, Kenya, 26 Jan 2024

Red-faced cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Found in thick vegetation adjacent to water bodies of Subsaharan Africa. Overal reddish and otherwise plain plumage, but its complex song draws attention. I have seen this species in a wetland of Nairobi in Kenya.

Karura Forest in Nairobi, Kenya, 26 Jan 2024

Singing cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Found in lush habitat and moist savanna of east and west Africa. Very similar to the red-faced cisticola but has a dark-brown head and rufous wing panels. I have encountered this species in a wetland of Nairobi in Kenya.

Kilimandege House in Lake Naivasha, Kenya, 2 Feb 2024

Rattling cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Found in savanna and scrub of uplands in east and south Africa. Quite bold and fierce, singing from exposed wires and mobbing large predators. I have seen this species in different areas of Kenya.

Talek plains, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, 6 Feb 2024

Winding cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Mostly inhabiting wetlands and moist scrub of east and west Africa. Its bold brown back markings are quite distinctive. I have observed this species in different areas of Kenya.

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, 6 Feb 2024

Stout cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Found in lush grassland of central Africa. Rufous head and a bold black-marked back, and a distinctive song made up of different notes followed by a buzz. I have seen this species in Kenya.

Laguna de Villena, Alicante, Spain, 3 Jul 2025

Zitting cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Widespread in prairies and grassy areas across the Old World, from the Iberian Peninsula to Japan south to South Africa and Australia. This species is a common residen in Alicante; I have also seen it in Kenya and Singapore.

Male in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, 19 Aug 2024

Golden-headed cisticola

Cisticola exilis

Found in grasslands along a patchy distribution from south India and the Himalayas through Indochina and Indonesia, east to Australia. Only breeding males sport the golden head. I have observed this species in Thailand.