From Opus

Photo by Andy Bright
Photographed in Hertfordshire, England

Aegithalos caudatus

Includes: Silver-throated Tit

[edit] Identification

Very often will give the impression of a small fluffy circular ball with a long tail attached. Approximately 14 cm (5.5 inches) of which more than half constitutes its tail. Black and rosy-beige above and white below, with rosy-beige flanks. It has a white crown but populations differs in amount of black in head. Bill is very short.

Juvenile/immature is darker and less glossy, lack rosy colors, and right after fledging, the tail is shorter.

[edit] Distribution

Europe and Asia but not in tropical areas.

[edit] Taxonomy

Nineteen to twentytwo subspecies are recognized by different authors.
Vinaceus and glaucogularis from China are sometimes considered a full species, Silver-throated Tit (Aegithalos glaucogularis).

Photo by alex_2301
Moscow, Russia

[edit] Habitat

Deciduous woodlands with undergrowth.

Also wetland reed beds

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Flight

Flight is short, whirring bursts and drops. Looks like a bouncing ball of fluff with a tail. Usually in flocks playing follow-my-leader from one patch of cover to another.

Seldom stays still for long, flitting about within a bush, chasing insects.

[edit] Breeding

Woven nests containing spider webs and lichen are built in a tree or shrub. Up to a dozen eggs per litter.

[edit] Diet

Diet includes insects

[edit] Vocalisation

[edit] References

1. Wikipedia
2. Beaman, M., S. Madge, K.M. Olsen. 1998. Fuglene i Europa, Nordafrika og Mellemøsten. Copenhagen, Denmark: Gads Forlag, ISBN 87-12-02276-4

[edit] External Links