Caspian Tit

Photo by greyowl
Iran, 2009

Poecile hyrcanus

Identification

• Brown upperparts
• Pink-brown underparts, becoming greyer with age
• Dark brown cap and bib
  

Sexes similar
Juveniles duller

Distribution

Endemic to Iran.

Taxonomy

Traditionally placed in Parus, mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data suggests that that genus should be split, as already adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union for example. This species is part of the chickadee group which then make up the genus Poecile. In Poecile, this species forms part of a group of apparently rather basal species, the relationships of which are ill-definied. They also include the Varied Tit and probably the White-fronted Tit (which were sometimes separated in Sittiparus), and possibly the White-browed Tit.
Formerly treated conspecific with Sombre Tit.

Subspecies^[1]

• P. l. hyrcanus:

• Northern Iran (Alborz mountains) and adjacent Azerbaijan

• P. l. kirmanensis:

• Southern Iran (mountains of Kerman region)

Habitat

Deciduous mountain forests.

Behaviour

Breeding

It nests in holes in decayed trees, lined with fur, wood chips, or hair. The clutch consists of 5-7 red-spotted white eggs.

Diet

The diet inclues seeds, insects and caterpillars.

Vocalisation

Call: zsit, and chev chev.

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2013. IOC World Bird Names (version 3.5). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
3. Avibase

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Caspian Tit. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Caspian_Tit

External Links

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