Rare errant guest – azure tit

Presentation Margus Ots, Chairman of EOÜ Rarities Committee 
Photo Micha Fager
Translation Liis
Azure tit
 
Azure tit     Lasuurtihane            Cyanistes (Parus) cyanus
 
The azure tit is the eastern relative of the blue tit. Its territory goes from the western Russia to Manchuria. In the distribution maps on Internet mostly aged information is reflected. According to that breeding areas are also in Finland and on the eastern shore of Lake Peipus. In reality the western limit of the azure tit’s range is east of Moscow; further west there is only a small isolated population in Belorussia.
 
While the azure tit has been seen only on 7 occasions in Estonia according to the information at the Ornithological Rarity Committee (the last time in 1989), then in Finland about 30 finds of azure tit are known. At our northern neighbours azure tits are known to have bred a couple of times (in 1973) and once it was also found breeding in a mixed couple with a blue tit (in 1975). More precise information about the observations is available on the web site of the Finnish linnuharulduste komisjoni: LINK
 
Although the azure tit is unmistakeably a bird with blue-white plumage according to guidebooks identification is not easy at all – for instance a leuchistic blue tit or a hybrid of azure tit and blue tit look quite similar to azure tits. The top of an azure tits head is always white, that of hybrids however usually greyish, the corners of the comparatively long tail of the azure tit are broadly white and the white wing band is also very broad. A definite identification of an azure tit and the exclusion of a hybrid is still often possible only on the basis of photos.
 
Although the azure tit is very true to its local habitat and seldom strays outside its range, azure tits have been seen in Finland 3 times already this winter. It is worthwhile for Estonian bird friends too to keep their eyes open – the rare stray guest might even come to some bird feeder here.
 
More  about the azure tit on the web site of the bird of the year: LINK
 
 
 


 

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