Golden-headed Cisticola
A species of Cisticolas Scientific name : Cisticola exilis Genus : Cisticolas
Golden-headed Cisticola, A species of Cisticolas
Botanical name: Cisticola exilis
Genus: Cisticolas
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The golden-headed cisticola is a small species, growing to 9–11.5 centimetres (3.5–4.5 in) long and weighing 6–10 grams (0.21–0.35 oz), with males slightly heavier than females. Although its appearance is similar to the black-backed cisticola (Cisticola eximius), the golden-headed cisticola has a shorter tail during the breeding season. The zitting cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) is also similar, but does not have the "rich golden" head of the golden-headed cisticola. The male has several characteristics that are only present during the breeding season, including a golden body colour, a golden-orange head, and a dull chin. It also has a shorter tail; this may be a result of sexual selection as a shorter tail has been shown to improve male reproductive success. Females and males outside of the breeding season are similar in appearance, characterized by a cream-coloured underside and a brown upperside. They have streaks of black or dark brown on the upper part of their body, black wings, and a golden head. Their throat is white and the back of their neck is a dull shade of gold. Aside from being lighter in colour, juveniles are similar in appearance to adults. When vocalizing the species exhibits a crest on its head. 
Size
9 cm
Feeding Habits
Golden-headed Cisticola consume a diet of small insects and invertebrates such as grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, ants, and slugs, often foraging alone, in pairs, or groups, usually on the ground amidst vegetation.
Habitat
Golden-headed Cisticola predominantly occupies open landscapes such as grasslands, savannas, and woodlands, often thriving in regions with tall, dense grass. It also adapts to human-modified environments, including croplands and irrigated fields, like rice paddies. While usually found in drier zones adjacent to wetlands, golden-headed Cisticola may retreat to forest edges in response to grassland fires, particularly in northern Australia. The species is adaptable to a range of altitudes, from sea level up to middle elevations, residing at 1800 meters on Lombok, 1500 meters in China, and commonly below 1200 meters across its broader range.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Behavior
The golden-headed cisticola is omnivorous, primarily eating invertebrates such as insects and small slugs, but also eating grass seeds. It typically forages on the ground for food, hiding from its prey among various plants, such as grass, and moving slowly. It usually inhabits a single place throughout its life, but habitat changes sometimes cause it to move to a different location. Records from New Guinea and Tasmania have shown it to be a wandering bird, and it possibly undergoes partial migration in China. It is often difficult to detect in the non-breeding season, which has made it difficult analyze when it travels to different areas. It produces a variety of sounds distinct from other birds, which, according to the Sunshine Coast Council, range from a "teewip" to a "wheezz, whit-whit". It is most often found single or in small flocks, but outside of the breeding season groups can be larger.
Distribution Area
The golden-headed cisticola has a very large range and population, covering Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Its extent of occurrence is estimated to be 36,800,000 square kilometres (14,200,000 sq mi), and it is the most common species of cisticola in Australia and from India to the Philippines. Based on reports of its population in individual countries, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) believes that the golden-headed cisticola's population is increasing globally. Its population density varies across regions – in most areas, about 2–6 birds are found in a single hectare, while in Kimberley, Western Australia, as many as 27 birds can be in a hectare. Due to its wide range and increasing population, the IUCN Red List lists it as a species of least concern. The species' habitat can be grassy hills, savannas, woodlands, scrublands, rivers, wetlands, or irrigated farmland, in areas where the grass is tall and thick. With the exception of the breeding season, the species mostly prefers to be near the ground. In Northern Australia, fires can occur in grasslands, causing it to sometimes live in forest edge habitats. According to the scientific journal BioLife, it lives at altitudes of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or less, although the Handbook of the Birds of the World says that it can live up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) in China and 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) on the island of Lombok.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Cisticolas and allies Genus
Cisticolas Species
Golden-headed Cisticola 
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