World's Smallest Birds

Golden Headed Cisticola

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cisticola exilis

The Golden Headed cisticola, also known as the bright-capped cisticola, is a species of warbler in the family Cisticolidae, found in Australia and 13 Asian countries.

Breeding males have a golden-orange head, which is crested when calling, with a paler chin and throat, and a boldly streaked black to dark gray and golden body. The tail is black, with paler tips, and is shorter.

Females resemble non-breeding males have buff-brown upperparts, heavily streaked black and dark brown, with a golden-buff rump and nape of neck. The underparts are cream with buff tints, the wings are black, with each feather edged buff.

Immatures resemble the females but are duller.

Adults are 3.5 – 4.5 inches long.

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 omnivorous, primarily eating invertebrates such as insects and small slugs, but also eating grass seeds.

Sub-coastal areas, wetlands, swamp margins, wet grasslands, rivers, and irrigated farmland. It prefers tangled vegetation close to the ground.

Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Both sexes construct their nest in shrubs, grass tussock, and other types of vegetation, no more than 3 meters above the ground. It is a round-shaped nest with an entry on the side. It is made of green leaves, soft plant down, and grass, with the plants being used so that the nest is camouflaged.
The female lays 3 - 4 eggs and incubates about 11 days.

SOURCE:
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.birdlife.org.au