Long-tailed tit

Aegithalos caudatus

The long-tailed tit or long-tailed bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996. The majority of relevant research has been directed at its social and breeding behaviour.
Duo This photography shows two long-tailed tits (Least-concern by IUCN). I took this picture during autumn bird migration, in the forest in Bydgoszcz (central Poland). I was really lucky to have both these - full of energy - birds in the same sharpness field. They were part of bigger herd - which included over 20 birds, drinking water from puddles. This photography shows wild animals. Aegithalos caudatus,Birds,Long-tailed tit

Appearance

This species has been described as a tiny, round-bodied tit with a short, stubby bill and a very long, narrow tail. The sexes look the same and young birds undergo a complete moult to adult plumage before the first winter. The plumage is mainly black and white, with variable amounts of grey and pink.
Long-tailed tit Pleased to say that these delightful little birds have started visiting my garden again. Even if I did have to wait for over two hours in the freezing cold, it was worth it! Aegithalos caudatus,Geotagged,Isle of Wight,Long-tailed tit,United Kingdom,Winter,birds,tits

Distribution

The long-tailed tit is globally widespread throughout temperate northern Europe and Asia, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of Oak, Ash and locally Sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is usually built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres above the ground.
Long Tailed Tit Long Tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus,Birds,Long-tailed Tit,Tits

Status

Globally, common throughout its range, only becoming scarce at the edge of the distribution. The IUCN, BirdLife International and The British Trust for Ornithology all list the long-tailed tit as a ‘species of least concern’, currently under little or no threat and is reasonably abundant.Bird, J. and Butchart, S. B. I. Aegithalos caudatus [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 29 November 2009]Robinson, R. A. BTO BirdFacts - long-tailed tit [Internet]. Available from: [Accessed 27/11/2009]
Due to their small size they are vulnerable to extreme cold weather with population losses of up to 80% being recorded in times of prolonged cold. It is thought that populations rapidly return to previous levels due to high breeding potential
Long-tailed_Tit Aegithalos caudatus,Geotagged,Long-tailed tit,United Kingdom,Winter

Behavior

This is by far the most well-studied aspect of the species. Extensive work has been done by Gaston, Glen and Glen and Perrins, Lack and Lack at Wytham Wood, England. Further important studies were carried out by Riehm in Germany and Nakamura in Japan. These works are brought together in a detailed summary by Cramp and Perrins.

Outside the breeding season they form compact flocks of 3 to 30 birds, composed of family parties from the previous breeding season, together with any extra adults that helped to raise a brood. These flocks will occupy and defend territories against neighbouring flocks. The driving force behind the flocking behaviour is thought to be that of winter roosting, being susceptible to cold; huddling increases survival through cold nights.

From July to February, the non-breeding season, long-tailed tits form flocks of relatives and non-relatives, roosting communally. When the breeding season begins, the flocks break up, and the birds attempt to breed in monogamous pairs. Males remain within the winter territory, while females have a tendency to wander to neighbouring territories.

Pairs whose nests fail have three choices: try again, abandon nesting for the season or help at a neighbouring nest. It has been shown that failed pairs split and help at the nests of male relatives, recognition being established vocally. The helped nests have greater success due to higher provisioning rates and better nest defence. At the end of the breeding season, in June–July, the birds reform the winter flocks in their winter territory.
Long-tailed tit - Aegithalos caudatus Aegithalidae,Aegithalos caudatus,Amvrakikos gulf,Animal,Animalia,Aves,Bird,Chordata,Europe,Geotagged,Greece,Long-tailed Tit,Long-tailed bushtit,Long-tailed tit,Nature,Passeriformes,Passerine,Wildlife,Winter

Habitat

The long-tailed tit is globally widespread throughout temperate northern Europe and Asia, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of Oak, Ash and locally Sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is usually built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres above the ground.
Long-tailed tit Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus,France,Geotagged,Long-tailed tit,Winter

Food

The long-tailed tit is insectivorous throughout the year. It eats predominately arthropods, preferring the eggs and larvae of moths and butterflies. Occasional vegetable matter is taken in the autumn.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.