Golden-headed Cisticola

Golden-headed Cisticola Latest News

Recently, Golden-headed Cisticola bird was discovered for the first time in the Mathikettan Shola National Park, Idukki in the southern Western Ghats after an extensive gap.

About Golden-headed Cisticola

• The Scientific Name of the Golden-headed Cisticola is Cisticola exilis.
• It is also known as the bright-capped cisticola, is a species of warbler in the family Cisticolidae.
• It is omnivorous, primarily eating invertebrates such as insects and small slugs, but also eating grass seeds.
• Habitat of Golden-headed Cisticola: It is usually found in grasslands in the mountain ranges.
• Distribution of Golden-headed Cisticola: It is found in Australia and Asian countries. In India it has been observed in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and northern Kerala.
• Golden-headed Cisticola Appearance: Male birds have distinct golden-orange plumage on their head, neck, and chest during breeding. They also have pinkish beaks and black streaks on their backs. They can be easily identified by their distinctive call.
• The bird was previously spotted in the grasslands of Banasura Hills in Wayanad.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN: Least Concern

Mathikettan Shola National Park

• It is located in the southern part of the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
• Vegetation of Mathikettan Shola National Park: It houses evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, shola grasslands and semi-evergreens.
• Three streams namely Uchillkuthi Puzha, Mathikettan Puzha, and Njandar being the tributaries of Panniyar, originate from the hill ranges of Mathikettan.
• Highest Point of Mathikettan Shola National Park : Kattumala is located in the eastern border of the park adjoining Tamil Nadu.
• Muthavan tribes are situated about the northeastern borders of Mathikettan Shola.

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Golden-headed Cisticola FAQs

Q1. Why is the Golden-headed Cisticola called the tailor bird?

Ans. The Golden-headed Cisticola is its habit of sewing leaves together with cobweb to form (and conceal) its nest.

Q2. What is a Cisticola?

Ans. These are a genus of very small insectivorous birds 

Q3. What is the Golden-headed Cisticola habitat?

Ans. It lives in sub-coastal areas, wetlands, swamp margins

Source: TH