Long-tailed Tit

Overview

The long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a common, small passerine bird found throughout temperate Eurasia. It belongs to the family Aegithalidae and is generally resident, though some northern subspecies may migrate to escape harsh winters.

Identification

• Plumage: Predominantly black and white with variable amounts of grey and pink; northern subspecies have completely white heads, while southern populations possess large dark eyebrows.
• Size: Tiny and round-bodied, measuring only 13–15 cm in length, including a very long, narrow tail of 7–9 cm.
• Bill: Short and stubby.
• Voice: Often heard before seen due to constant contact calls in flocks, including a high-pitched pit, a 'triple trill' (eez-eez-eez), and a rattling schnuur.

Habitat

Widespread across the Palearctic region, this species inhabits deciduous and mixed woodlands with well-developed shrub layers, as well as scrub, heathland, farmland, and gardens. It strongly prefers edge habitats and shows a specific preference for nesting in scrub areas, often within thorny bushes located less than 3 metres above the ground.

Diet

The long-tailed tit is insectivorous year-round, feeding predominantly on arthropods such as moth and butterfly eggs and larvae. It occasionally consumes vegetable matter like seeds during autumn and winter and forages socially in flocks.

Did you know?

Nests are constructed with over 6,000 pieces of material, including lichen, feathers, and moss, bound together by spider silk which acts as a natural form of velcro. The nests are lined with more than 2,000 downy feathers for insulation, yet they suffer a high predation rate with only 17% success.