- Poecile varius
Identification
It can reach a size between eleven and fourteen centimetres depending on the subspecies. The wing length is 6.0 to 7.8 centimetres. In the nominate race P. v. varia the crown, the bill, the throat, the upper breast and the nape are black. Forehead, face, and cheeks are white. Back, wings, and tail are blueish grey. Mantle, lower breast, belly and undertail coverts are chestnut coloured. From the crown to the nape runs a thin white central line. Other subspecies have a darker hue at the back and at the cheeks, P. v. owstoni has chestnut coloured cheeks and the mantle of P. v. olivacea has an olive tone. The feet are dark cyan. Its call consists of tiny tones which sounds like tzu….tzu….tzu
Distribution
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and locally in northeastern China and extreme southeastern Russia.
Taxonomy
This species has been placed in various genera in the family Paridae. Formerly, like most other tits, it was placed in Parus, later in Sittiparus or Cyanistes. New studies show that it is maybe best placed in Poecile.
Nine subspecies are recognized[1]:
- P. v. varius
- P. v. sunsunpi
- P. v. yakushimensis
- P. v. amamii
- P. v. orii
- P. v. olivaceus
- P. v. castaneoventris
- P. v. namiyei
- P. v. owstoni
Habitat
Its habitat consists of open mixed forests, in particular with the Japanese castanopsis species Castanopsis cuspidata and Japanese Larch, coniferous forests with Japanese yews, Japanese cedars, and pines as well as bamboo forests at mountain slopes and in river valleys.
Behaviour
The Varied Tit eats a mixed diet consisting of seeds, nuts and insects, namely caterpillars.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
