These include wetlands, moist or drier grasslands, open or rocky mountain slopes, and human-modified habitats such as road verges, cultivation, weedy areas or pasture.

The species preferring wetlands can be found at the edges of mangrove, or in papyrus, common reed, or typha swamps.

The zitting cisticola (or fan-tailed warbler) is widespread throughout the tropics and even breeds in southern Europe.

The similar plumage of many species can make them hard to identify, particularly in winter when they seldom emerge from their grasses.

Despite his size and well-camouflaged, brown-streaked plumage, the male golden-headed cisticola of Australia and southern Asia produces a small, brilliant splash of golden-yellow colour in the dappled sunlight of a reed bed.