Southern Black Tit

Overview

The southern black tit, or simply black tit, is a bird native to the woodland habitats of southern Africa. It belongs to the tit family Paridae and is characterised by its almost entirely monotone plumage, unlike its northern counterparts.

Identification

• The bird is around 16 centimetres in total length and is sexually dimorphic, with females appearing greyish and males distinctly blue-black.
• It is distinguishable from similar species such as the white-winged tit by the complete lack of a white rim on its tail.

Habitat

This species occurs chiefly in tropical and subtropical savanna woodland, preferring areas dominated by broad-leaved trees such as miombo, Combretum species, and Burkea africana. Its range forms a semicircular arc from Angola to the Eastern Cape in South Africa, and it is especially common in the woodlands of western Zimbabwe.

Diet

Like other tits, it feeds chiefly on insects and is a voracious consumer of wasps in its favoured habitat. Unusually for a member of its family, it has also been known to consume nectar and fruiting figs.

Did you know?

The breeding female, who incubates eggs continuously for fifteen days, will mimic venomous snakes when she feels threatened to protect the nest from predators.