---
title: "Golden-headed Cisticola"
description: "Cisticola exilis — Birds. The golden-headed cisticola (Cisticola exilis), also known as the bright-capped cisticola, is a species of warbler in the family Cisticolidae, found in Australia and thirteen Asian countries."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/golden-headed-cisticola
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Golden-headed Cisticola

> Cisticola exilis — Birds. The golden-headed cisticola (Cisticola exilis), also known as the bright-capped cisticola, is a species of warbler in the family Cisticolidae, found in Australia and thirteen Asian countries.

- Scientific name: *Cisticola exilis*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `grassland` (Fields & meadows)
- iNaturalist observations: 4759
- Wikidata: [Q795503](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q795503)
- iNaturalist taxon: [7657](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7657)

## Names

- en: Golden-headed Cisticola
- de: Goldkopfcistensänger
- es: Cistícola Cabecidorado
- fr: Cisticole à couronne dorée
- nl: Goudkopgraszanger
- pl: Chwastówka złotogłowa

## Countries with the most observations

AU (3758), ID (240), TW (162), TH (133), PH (52), IN (48), HK (25), CN (17), TL (11), PG (6), KH (5), NP (5)

## Summary

The golden-headed cisticola (Cisticola exilis), also known as the bright-capped cisticola, is a species of warbler in the family Cisticolidae, found in Australia and thirteen Asian countries. Growing to 9–11.5 cm (3.5–4.5 in) long, it is usually brown and cream in colour, but has a different appearance during the mating season, with a gold-coloured body and a much shorter tail. It is an omnivore and frequently makes a variety of vocalizations. Known as the "finest tailor of all birds", it constructs nests out of plants and spider threads. It mates in the rainy season. It has a very large range and population, which…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden-headed_cisticola

## Photo

![Golden-headed Cisticola](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/golden-headed-cisticola/medium.jpg)

Photo: John Cull · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/303057719

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/golden-headed-cisticola?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).