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Difference between revisions of "Great Tit" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:GreatTit.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Clarke+Robinson|Clarke  Robinson}}<br>Photographed: [[London]], [[England]]]]
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[[Image:GreatTit.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|Clarke+Robinson|Clarke  Robinson}}<br /> [[London]], [[England]], February 2007]]
 
;[[:Category:Parus|Parus]] major
 
;[[:Category:Parus|Parus]] major
 +
'''Includes: Turkestan Tit'''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
The largest European tit - yellow and green with a glossy black head and white cheeks.
+
12·5–14 cm (5-5½ in); the largest European tit
 +
*Yellow and green
 +
*Glossy black head
 +
*White cheeks
 +
*Vertical black stripe on chest (broader on male)
 +
[[Image:Turketstantit.jpg‎|thumb|300px|right|Turkestan Tit<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Askar+Isabekov|Askar Isabekov}}<br />Kazakhstan Shelek (Chilik), Enbekshikazakh region, Alma Ata oblast, [[Kazakhstan]], March 2007]]
 +
'''Juvenile''': cheeks are yellowish
 
====Similar Species====
 
====Similar Species====
 
The occasional bird is much greyer than the typical one, and needs to be compared carefully to [[Coal Tit]] which has two wing bars, different shape to the white spot on rear head/nape, and looks larger headed.
 
The occasional bird is much greyer than the typical one, and needs to be compared carefully to [[Coal Tit]] which has two wing bars, different shape to the white spot on rear head/nape, and looks larger headed.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
−
[[Europe]] and north [[Africa]] through all of [[Asia]], [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] to [[Japan]] and south to parts of [[Indonesia]].
+
From [[Europe]] and north [[Africa]] through central [[Asia]] to western [[China]]. <br/>
 +
In [[Wisconsin]], [[USA]], this species has been observed regularly (including breeding) for several years, but at this time the species is not considered established by any North American birding authorities.
 +
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
−
Polytypic. Consists of about 32 subspecies.<br /> These have been proposed for splitting into three species: Great Tit with 12 subspecies, Cinereous Tit (Parus cinereus) with 14 subspecies, and Japanese Tit (''Parus minor'') with 8 subspecies. Only the IOC list have accepted these changes, Opus awaits a position from the other major checklists.  
+
[[Cinereous Tit]] and [[Japanese Tit]] were formerly included in this species. Turkestan Tit (''bokharensis'', ''ferghanensis'' and ''turkestanicus'') was formerly considered a full species.
−
====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>====
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====Subspecies====
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'''Great Tit'''<br />
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[[Image:DSC 01964.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juveniles<br />Photo &copy; by the late '''[https://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php/ppuser/84230/cat/500 Chocky]'''<br />[[Devon]], [[UK]], May 2014 ]]
 +
[[Image:Great-tit-2-.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|markranner|markranner}}<br />Tomintoul, Moray, [[Scotland]], February 2018]]
 +
This is a [[Dictionary_M-S#P|polytypic]] species <sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> consisting of 15 subspecies:
 
*''P. m. newtoni'': in the [[British Isles]]
 
*''P. m. newtoni'': in the [[British Isles]]
 
*''P. m. major'': [[Europe]] to north-western [[Iran]], [[Siberia]], Lake Baikal, Altai and Sayan mountains
 
*''P. m. major'': [[Europe]] to north-western [[Iran]], [[Siberia]], Lake Baikal, Altai and Sayan mountains
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*''P. m. blanfordi''  (karelini): Northern [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]]
 
*''P. m. blanfordi''  (karelini): Northern [[Iraq]] and [[Iran]]
 
*''P. m. intermedius'': North-eastern [[Iran]] and adjacent south-western [[Turkmenistan]]
 
*''P. m. intermedius'': North-eastern [[Iran]] and adjacent south-western [[Turkmenistan]]
−
'''Cinereous Tit'''<br />
+
*''P. m. bokharensis'': [[Russia]] to Tien Shan and Karatau mts. and north-western [[Afghanistan]]
−
*''P. m. cashmirensis'': North-eastern [[Afghanistan]] to northern [[Pakistan]] and north-western [[India]]
+
*''P. m. ferghanensis'': Southern Kirgiz and western Tien Shan mts. to western Pamirs and Turkestan
−
*''P. m. ziaratensis'': Southern [[Afghanistan]] to northern Baluchistan and [[Pakistan]]
+
*''P. m. turkestanicus'': Lake Balkhash to western [[China]] (Xinjiang) and south-western [[Mongolia]]
−
*''P. m. decolorans'': South-eastern [[Afghanistan]] (east of Kabul and south of the Hindu Kush)
+
 
−
*''P. m. nipalensis'': Northern [[India]] to [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[Bangladesh]] and western [[Myanmar]]
 
−
*''P. m. vauriei'': Eastern Assam (Lakhimpur district) and eastern Arunachal Pradesh
 
−
*''P. m. stupae'': Central and peninsular [[India]]
 
−
*''P. m. mahrattarum'': South-western [[India]] (Kerala) and [[Sri Lanka]]
 
−
*''P. m. templorum'': North-eastern [[Thailand]] to southern [[Laos]] and southern [[Vietnam]]
 
−
*''P. m. hainanus'': Hainan (southern [[China]])
 
−
*''P. m. ambiguus'': South-eastern [[Myanmar]], peninsular [[Thailand]], [[Malaya]] and [[Sumatra]]
 
−
*''P. m. cinereus'': [[Java]] and western [[Lesser Sundas]]
 
−
*''P. m. sarawacensis'': [[Borneo]] (western Sarawak)
 
−
'''Japanese Tit'''<br />
 
−
*''P. m. minor'': South-eastern [[Russia]] to [[Japan]], [[Korea]], south-western [[China]] and eastern [[Tibet]]
 
−
*''P. m. tibetanus'': South-western [[China]] to south-eastern [[Tibet]]; single record from Sikkim
 
−
*''P. m. subtibetanus'': Southern [[China]] to south-eastern [[Tibet]] and north-western [[Myanmar]]
 
−
*''P. m. nubicolus'': South-eastern [[Myanmar]] to northern [[Thailand]], northern [[Laos]] and extreme western Tonkin
 
−
*''P. m. dageletensis'': Ullung Island (South [[Korea]])
 
−
*''P. m. amamiensis'': Northern Ryukyu Islands (Amami-O-Shima and Tokuno-Shima)
 
−
*''P. m. okinawae'': Central Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa and Yagachi)
 
−
*''P. m. nigriloris'': Southern Ryukyu Islands (Ishigaki and Iriomote)
 
−
*''P. m. commixtus'': Southern [[China]] (south of the Yangtze) to [[Hong Kong]] and eastern Tonkin
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Parks, woodlands and gardens all over Europe
 
Parks, woodlands and gardens all over Europe
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
−
A woodland bird but nowadays a garden bird. Sometimes aggressive, fighting with other tits. In winter together with [[Blue Tit|Blue Tits]] and other species
+
A woodland bird but nowadays a garden bird. Sometimes aggressive, fighting with other tits. In winter forms mixed feeding flocks with [[Blue Tit]], [[Coal Tit]]. [[Eurasian Treecreeper]] and other species
  
−
Frequent visitor to birdtables and seed-dispensers, thus well known. Bold, at times plain audacious, may take seed from outstretched hand
+
Frequent visitor to birdtables and seed-dispensers, thus well known. Bold, at times plain audacious, may take seed from outstretched hand.
 +
====Diet====
 +
Insects and seeds, suet, beech nuts etc.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
Breeds in all kinds of woodland (incl. in desolate taiga in far north) and in immediate proximity of man in parks and gardens.
 
Breeds in all kinds of woodland (incl. in desolate taiga in far north) and in immediate proximity of man in parks and gardens.
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There may be a second brood if there is plenty of food. The breeding season runs between April to August in the [[UK]].
 
There may be a second brood if there is plenty of food. The breeding season runs between April to August in the [[UK]].
−
====Diet====
 
−
Insects and seeds, suet, beech nuts etc.
 
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
−
<flashmp3>Parus major (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
+
{{ Audio|Parus major (song).mp3 }}
−
''[[Media:Parus major (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
+
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}}#Avibase
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug18}}#Avibase
 
#Bird Watching
 
#Bird Watching
 +
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==

Revision as of 14:04, 5 April 2021

Photo © by Clarke Robinson
London, England, February 2007
Parus major

Includes: Turkestan Tit

Identification

12·5–14 cm (5-5½ in); the largest European tit

  • Yellow and green
  • Glossy black head
  • White cheeks
  • Vertical black stripe on chest (broader on male)
Turkestan Tit
Photo © by Askar Isabekov
Kazakhstan Shelek (Chilik), Enbekshikazakh region, Alma Ata oblast, Kazakhstan, March 2007

Juvenile: cheeks are yellowish

Similar Species

The occasional bird is much greyer than the typical one, and needs to be compared carefully to Coal Tit which has two wing bars, different shape to the white spot on rear head/nape, and looks larger headed.

Distribution

From Europe and north Africa through central Asia to western China.
In Wisconsin, USA, this species has been observed regularly (including breeding) for several years, but at this time the species is not considered established by any North American birding authorities.

Taxonomy

Cinereous Tit and Japanese Tit were formerly included in this species. Turkestan Tit (bokharensis, ferghanensis and turkestanicus) was formerly considered a full species.

Subspecies

Juveniles
Photo © by the late Chocky
Devon, UK, May 2014
Photo © by markranner
Tomintoul, Moray, Scotland, February 2018

This is a polytypic species [1] consisting of 15 subspecies:

Habitat

Parks, woodlands and gardens all over Europe

Behaviour

A woodland bird but nowadays a garden bird. Sometimes aggressive, fighting with other tits. In winter forms mixed feeding flocks with Blue Tit, Coal Tit. Eurasian Treecreeper and other species

Frequent visitor to birdtables and seed-dispensers, thus well known. Bold, at times plain audacious, may take seed from outstretched hand.

Diet

Insects and seeds, suet, beech nuts etc.

Breeding

Breeds in all kinds of woodland (incl. in desolate taiga in far north) and in immediate proximity of man in parks and gardens.

Nests in roomy nestbox, tree-hole (e.g. decayed fruit tree), air duct and even letterbox. The clutch consists of 5-12 white eggs spotted reddish-brown which are incubated for around 2 weeks. The young fledge at around 16-22 days.

There may be a second brood if there is plenty of food. The breeding season runs between April to August in the UK.

Vocalisation

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Bird Watching
  4. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)

Recommended Citation

External Links


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