#cisticolas

If you’ve been following Zoonomatology for a while, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that the name zitting cisticola (or streaked fantail warbler) doesn’t have anything to do with pimples. It’s actually onomatopoeic; referring to the bird’s zit, zit, zit call. According to Ray Reedman’s book Lapwings, Loons & Lousy Jacks, ‘cisticola’ originates from the Greek ‘kisthos’ or ‘kistos’ (meaning rock rose) and ‘cola’ (dweller) which probably references the birds’ (Cisticola spp.) habitat. Alternatively, ‘cisti-’ (from ‘cista') may mean wooden basket (relating to their nests).

Stout Cisticola (Cisticola robustus) - photo by Nik Borrow