Cisticola juncidis -- (Rafinesque, 1810) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PASSERIFORMES -- CISTICOLIDAE Common names: Zitting Cisticola; Cisticole des joncs; Fan-tailed Cisticola; Fan-tailed Warbler European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) At both European and EU27 scales this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Albania; Belgium; Croatia; Cyprus; France; Greece; Italy; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Malta; Montenegro; Netherlands; Portugal; Serbia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; Gibraltar (to UK) Vagrant: Austria; Bulgaria; Denmark; Ireland, Rep. of; Liechtenstein; Sweden; United Kingdom Population The European population is estimated at 922,000-2,140,000 pairs, which equates to 1,840,000-4,280,000 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 919,000-2,130,000 pairs, which equates to 1,840,000-4,260,000 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be stable. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology 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). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable breeding Artificial/Aquatic - Seasonally Flooded Agricultural Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Pastureland suitable non-breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Urban Areas suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable breeding Marine Intertidal - Salt Marshes (Emergent Grasses) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Permanent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable breeding Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under ha) suitable non-breeding Altitude max. 1000 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats 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). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture plantations Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem conversion Climate change & Habitat shifting & Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather alteration Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown Stresses Ecosystem degradation; Indirect ecosystem effects Climate change & Temperature Timing Scope Severity Impact severe weather extremes Past, Likely to Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could Past Impact Return cause fluctuations Stresses Species mortality Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (agricultural use) Stresses Ecosystem conversion Natural system Abstraction of Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications surface water Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact (unknown use) Stresses Ecosystem conversion Natural system Other ecosystem Timing Scope Severity Impact modifications modifications Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Ecosystem conversion Conservation Conservation Actions Underway There are currently no known conservation measures for this species. Conservation Actions Proposed Although this species is not threatened, populations should be monitored to ensure habitat loss does not become a major threat. Bibliography BirdLife International and Durham University. 2015. Species climate change impacts factsheet: Cisticola juncidis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19th March 2015. Martí, R. and del Moral, J.C. 2004. Atlas de las aves reproductoras de España. Parques Nacionales. Ryan, P. 2006. Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.). 2014. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/58640 on 19 March 2015). Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Map (see overleaf) .