Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range and the population size is extremely large, hence does not approach threatened thresholds for the range or population size criteria. The population trend is unknown, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
In Europe, the total population size is estimated at 2,270,000-3,680,000 mature individuals, with 1,130,000-1,840,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 5% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 45,400,000-73,600,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. Following recorded range expansions in Europe in recent decades (del Hoyo et al. 2006), the species' population is considered to have remained relatively stable over three generations (10 years) (BirdLife International 2021). Given the small proportion of the species' global range in Europe, and the lack of data from other regions, the global population trend is unknown,
Trend justification
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The species occupies open grasslands, including seasonally flooded and grassy wetlands, meadows, fallow lands and cultivated croplands and is occasionally found in urban areas. It prefers to forage in areas where there is Typha and Phragmites reedbeds and Salicornia saltmarsh as well as some bare ground, but breeding pairs require live, narrow-bladed grasses, sedges or plants with similar structure for nest-sites. It is usually found where vegetation is less than 1 m tall. It mostly breeds from March to September in Europe. The male builds the nest (Ryan 2006) low down in marshy vegetation and it is an elongated pear or bottle shaped structure with an entrance at or near the top. It is made of grasses bound together with cobwebs and lined with more cobwebs, flowers, hair and down. Usually four to six eggs are laid (Snow and Perrins 1998). It feeds mainly on insects and small invertebrates as well as some grass seeds. The species is largely resident throughout most of its range, but is subject to local movements often linked to seasonal changes in habitat suitability (Ryan 2006).
The main threat to this species is habitat loss through drainage, irrigation, land reclamation and conversion of meadows to plantations. Winter conditions restrict its range and it is very sensitive to periods of cold weather (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997), however populations recover quickly after cold winters (Martí and del Moral 2004). The species is also likely to be affected by climate change (BirdLife International and Durham University 2015).
Conservation Actions Underway
There are currently no known conservation measures for this species within Europe.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Although this species is not threatened, populations should be monitored to ensure habitat loss does not become a major threat.
Text account compilers
Martin, R., Rutherford, C.A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/zitting-cisticola-cisticola-juncidis on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.