Sylviidae

This extremely large Old World family of small, mostly drab-plumaged birds has recently been split into two families, one-third of which forms the Cisticolidae, comprising the cisticolas, prinias and tailorbirds of warmer regions, while the remaining two-thirds have been retained in the more widespread Sylviidae. The vast majority of cisticolas are found in Africa, with relatively few in Southeast Asia, whereas prinias are more species in India and Southeast Asia. The tailorbirds, however, are confined to Southeast Asia. Members of both groups have slender, usually straight, pointed bills, longish tails and except in the migratory leaf-warblers and reed-warblers, short and rounded wings. Although the majority of warblers are understorey birds that skulk about in grasslands, reed-beds and forest undergrowth, others actively hunt insects in the forest canopy. As the name “warbler” suggests, many have melodious songs, and in Indonesia, some are even kept as cagebirds for their song. Their nests are often placed on or near the ground, and may be bowl or dome-shaped. Tailorbirds, however, have a unique way of constructing their nests which involves stitching the edges of a leaf together to form a pouch. Java has 22 species of Sylviids and Cisticolids, of which ten occur in Baluran , mostly belonging to the latter group.

Flight: Fast flapping, straight. Deeply undulating in some species.