Cisticolidae
Họ Chiền chiện

General

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome. Malaysian names are now being updated. For consistency, Vietnamese bird names (except for ducks and chickens) are preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird'. Ornithological lists mostly omit this as understood. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

Cisticolas, prinias, and tailorbirds are widely found in Vietnam, from the north to the south.

1. The cisticolas and prinias are known in Vietnamese as Chiền chiện, glossed here as 'prinia', which is probably onomatopoeic. TVC (34) makes an artificial distinction between Cisticola as Chiện and Prinia as Chiền chiện. Chiền chiện is also used for Megalurus palustris (Striated Grassbird) (Locustellidae).

2. The tailorbirds are known known as Chích bông or 'plant-floss warbler bird'. Chích is the ornithological name for the sylviid warblers, with which the tailorbirds were originally placed. The term bông is used for cotton, cotton-wool, cotton-like material, fluff, flowers, blossoms, the ears (of grain plants), etc. Here it possibly refers to the floss that tailorbirds use to pad their nests. The Mountain Tailorbird, formerly considered part of this genus, is now placed with the scotocercid warblers.

Curiously, the Hill Prinia (Prinia atrogularis) is known in Chinese and Japanese as the "black-throated prinia", but in Vietnamese as the "white-throated prinia". The reason for this appears to lie in breeding and non-breeding plumage. Careful observation will reveal that the throat of P. atrogularis is white in non-breeding plumage and black in breeding plumage. In TVC, the name has been changed to accord with the 'international standard'.

Species names

CISTICOLINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Cisticola
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Cisticola juncidis	Zitting cisticola or Fantailed cisticola Rufous fantail warbler Fantail warbler Cisticole des joncs	Chim Chiền chiện đồng hung 'reddish field prinia (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Chiện đồng đầu hung 'reddish-headed field prinia (bird)' (34)	棕扇尾莺 (棕扇尾鶯) zōng shàn-wěi-yīng 'reddishbrown fan-tailed warbler' Taiwan: (棕扇尾莺) 棕扇尾鶯 zōng shàn-wěi-yīng 'reddishbrown fan-tailed warbler'	セッカ (雪加 ~ 雪下) sekka 'cisticola'	นกยอดข้าวหางแพนลาย nók yôaat-kʰâaw hăaŋ-pʰaeen laay 'striped fanshape-tailed riceplant-tip bird'	Burung Main Angin 'wind-player bird' (26, 27) Burung Cekup Layang 'swallow-warbler bird' (24)	Burung Cici Padi 'paddy cisticola (bird)' (onomat.) (from Javanese cici / kecici 'prinia', see also Locustella)
Cisticola exilis	Golden-headed cisticola Bright-headed cisticola Golden-headed fantail warbler Gold-capped cisticola Bright-capped cisticola Yellow-headed fantail warbler Cisticole à couronne dorée	Chim Chiền chiện đồng vàng 'yellow field prinia (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Chiện đồng đầu vàng 'yellow-headed field prinia (bird)' (34)	金头扇尾莺 (金頭扇尾鶯) jīn-tóu shàn-wěi-yīng 'gold-headed fan-tailed warbler' Taiwan: (黄头扇尾莺) 黄頭扇尾鶯 huáng-tóu shàn-wěi-yīng 'yellow-headed fan-tailed warbler'	タイワンセッカ (台湾雪加 ~ 台湾雪下) taiwan sekka 'Taiwanese cisticola'	นกยอดข้าวหางแพนหัวแดง nók yôaat-kʰâaw hăaŋ-pʰaeen hŭa-daeeŋ 'red-headed fanshape-tail riceplant-tip (bird)'		Burung Cici Merah 'red prinia (bird)' (onomat.) (from Javanese cici / kecici 'prinia', see also Locustella)
PRINIINAE
Prinia
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Prinia polychroa	Brown prinia Brown hill prinia David's hill warbler Brown hill warbler Prinia des montagnes	Chim Chiền chiện núi 'mountain prinia (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Chiền chiện núi nâu 'brown mountain prinia (bird)' (34)	褐山鹪莺 (褐山鷦鶯) hè shān-jiāo-yīng 'brown mountain wren-warbler'	ヤマハウチワドリ (山羽団扇鳥) yama ha-uchiwa-dori 'mountain feather round-fan bird'	นกกระจิบหญ้าสีน้ำตาล nók krà-cìp yâa sĭi-nám-taan 'brown grass-tailorbird (bird)'		Burung Perenjak Coklat 'brown prinia (bird)'
Prinia atrogularis	Hill prinia White-browed prinia Black-throated hill prinia Prinia à gorge noire	Chim Chiền chiện núi họng trắng 'white-throated mountain prinia (bird)' (12, 13)	Chim Chiền chiện họng đen 'black-throated prinia (bird)' (34)	黑喉山鹪莺 (黑喉山鷦鶯) hēi-hóu shān-jiāo-yīng 'black-throated mountain wren-warbler' (1, 2, 3, 4) 黑喉鹪莺 (黑喉鷦鶯) hēi-hóu jiāo-yīng 'black-throated wren-warbler' (5)	ノドグロハウチワドリ (喉黒羽団扇鳥) nodo-guro ha-uchiwa-dori 'black-throated feather round-fan bird'	Prinia superciliaris: นกกระจิบหญ้าคิ้วขาว nók krà-cìp yâa kʰíw-kʰăaw 'white-eyebrowed grass-tailorbird (bird)'	Burung Perenjak Gunung Ekor Panjang 'long-tailed mountain prinia (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Perenjak Puncak 'peak prinia (bird)' (24)	Burung Perenjak Gunung 'mountain prinia (bird)' (Conflicts with Malay name for Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cucullatus)
Prinia rufescens	Rufescent prinia Lesser brown prinia Dark-crowned hill prinia Dark-crowned wren warbler Prinia roussâtre	Chim Chiền chiện đầu nâu 'brown-headed prinia (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		暗冕山鹪莺 (暗冕山鷦鶯) àn-miǎn shān-jiāo-yīng 'dark-crowned mountain wren-warbler' (2, 4) 暗冕鹪莺 (暗冕鷦鶯) àn-miǎn jiāo-yīng 'dark-crowned wren-warbler' (1, 3, 5)	チャイロハウチワドリ (茶色羽団扇鳥) cha-iro ha-uchiwa-dori 'brown feather round-fan bird'	นกกระจิบหญ้าสีข้างแดง nók krà-cìp yâa sĭi-kʰâaŋ-daeeŋ 'red-flanked grass-tailorbird (bird)'	Burung Perenjak Belukar 'thicket prinia (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Perenjak Sampah 'rustbrown prinia (bird)' (24)
Prinia hodgsonii	Grey-breasted prinia Franklin's prinia Grey-breasted hill prinia Franklin's wren warbler Prinia de Hodgson	Chim Chiền chiện lưng xám 'grey-backed prinia (bird)' (12, 34)	Chim Chiền chiện ngực xám 'grey-breasted prinia (bird)' (13)	灰胸山鹪莺 (灰胸山鷦鶯) huī-xiōng shān-jiāo-yīng 'grey-breasted mountain wren-warbler' (2, 4) 灰胸鹪莺 (灰胸鷦鶯) huī-xiōng jiāo-yīng 'grey-breasted wren-warbler' (1, 3, 5)	ハイイロムネハウチワドリ (灰色胸羽団扇鳥) hai-iro-mune ha-uchiwa-dori 'grey-breasted feather round-fan bird'	นกกระจิบหญ้าอกเทา nók krà-cìp yâa òk-tʰaw 'grey-breasted grass-tailorbird (bird)'
Prinia flaviventris	Yellow-bellied prinia Yellow-bellied hill prinia Yellow-bellied wren warbler Prinia à ventre jaune	Chim Chiền chiện bụng vàng 'yellow-bellied prinia (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		黄腹山鹪莺 (黃腹山鷦鶯) huáng-fù shān-jiāo-yīng 'yellow-bellied mountain wren-warbler' (2, 4) 黄腹鹪莺 (黃腹鷦鶯) huáng-fù jiāo-yīng 'yellow-bellied wren-warbler' (1, 3, 5) Taiwan: (灰头鹪莺) 灰頭鷦鶯 huī-tóu jiāo-yīng 'grey-headed wren-warbler'	アオハウチワドリ (青羽団扇鳥) ao ha-uchiwa-dori 'blue/green feather round-fan bird'	นกกระจิบหญ้าท้องเหลือง nók krà-cìp yâa tʰóaaŋ-lĕuaŋ 'yellow-bellied grass-tailorbird (bird)'	Burung Perenjak Kuning 'yellow prinia (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Perenjak Padi 'paddy prinia (bird)' (24)	Burung Perenjak Rawa 'swamp prinia (bird)'
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Prinia inornata Prinia subflava Taxonomy	Plain prinia Greater brown hill prinia Brown wren warbler Greater brown wren warbler Prinia simple	Chim Chiền chiện bụng hung 'reddish-bellied prinia (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		纯色山鹪莺 (純色山鷦鶯) chún-sè shān-jiāo-yīng 'pure-coloured mountain wren-warbler' (2, 4) 褐头鹪莺 (褐頭鷦鶯) hè-tóu jiāo-yīng 'brown-headed wren-warbler' (1, 3, 5) Taiwan: (褐头鹪莺) 褐頭鷦鶯 hè-tóu jiāo-yīng 'brown-headed wren-warbler'	マミハウチワドリ (眉羽団扇鳥) mami ha-uchiwa-dori 'eyebrowed feather round-fan bird'	นกกระจิบหญ้าสีเรียบ nók krà-cìp yâa sĭi-rîap 'plain grass-tailorbird (bird)'		Burung Perenjak Padi 'paddy prinia (bird)'
Orthotomus
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malaysian	Indonesian
Orthotomus sutorius	Common tailorbird Long-tailed tailor bird Couturière à longue queue	Chim Chích bông đuôi dài 'long-tailed plant-floss warbler (bird)' (12, 13, 34)		长尾缝叶莺 (長尾縫葉鶯) cháng-wěi féng-yè-yīng 'long-tailed sew-leaf warbler'	オナガサイホウチョウ (尾長裁縫鳥) o-naga saihō-chō 'long-tailed sewing-bird'	นกกระจิบธรรมดา nók krà-cìp tʰam-ma-daa 'common tailorbird (bird)'	Burung Perenjak Pisang 'banana prinia (bird)' (24, 26, 27)	Burung Cinenen Pisang 'banana tailorbird (bird)'
Orthotomus atrogularus	Dark-necked tailorbird Black-necked tailor bird Couturière à col noir	Chim Chích bông cánh vàng 'yellow-winged plant-floss warbler (bird)' (12, 13)		黑喉缝叶莺 (黑喉縫葉鶯) hēi-hóu féng-yè-yīng 'black-throated sew-leaf warbler'	ノドグロサイホウチョウ (喉黒裁縫鳥) nodo-guro saihō-chō 'black-throated sewing-bird'	นกกระจิบคอดำ nók krà-cìp kʰoaa-dam 'black-necked tailorbird (bird)'	Burung Perenjak Leher Hitam 'black-necked prinia (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Perenjak Belukar 'thicket prinia (bird)' (24) (Used by 26 and 27 for Prinia rufescens)	Burung Cinenen Belukar 'thicket tailorbird (bird)'
Orthotomus ruficeps	Ashy tailorbird Couturière à tête rousse	Orthotomus sepium: Chim Chích bông nâu 'brown plant-floss warbler (bird)' (12)		灰缝叶莺 (灰縫葉鶯) huī féng-yè-yīng 'grey sew-leaf warbler'	アカガオサイホウチョウ (赤顔裁縫鳥) aka-gao saihō-chō 'red-faced sewing-bird'	นกกระจิบหัวแดง nók krà-cìp hŭa-daeeŋ 'red-headed tailorbird (bird)'	Burung Perenjak Kelabu 'grey prinia (bird)' (26, 27) Orthotomus sepium: Burung Perenjak Bukit 'hill prinia (bird)' (24)	Orthotomus sepium: Burung Cinenen Kelabu 'grey tailorbird (bird)'

セッカ sekka is used in Japanese for several small warbling birds in the Cisticolidae, Locustellidae, and Phylloscopidae. The etymology is unknown. It is written with the ateji 雪加 (literally 'snow-add') or 雪下 (literally 'snow-below'), characters assigned on the basis of sound only with little or no relation to etymology or meaning.

中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全（修订版） 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000

中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005

中国鸟类野外手册（中文版）约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯，合作者：荷芬奇，翻译：卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000

世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编：郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002

世界鸟类名称（拉丁文、汉文、英文对照）第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002

Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999

Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000

Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
(List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981)

A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999

The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 - Passerines by Wells, David R., Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London 2007

Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009