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Long-tailed tit

 

 

Reinforcements to our long-tailed tits arrived last week from somewhere – the north-east or east. They move around in relatively small groups: a pair of birds or a small group, often adults along with the juveniles of this summer, or a couple of families. All have similar plumage by now, only the legs of this summer’s juveniles are more reddish. We can meet them in mixed and broadleaf forests or thickets, but they will not stay in place for long enough to be observed at leisure.

 

The head, neck and breast of long-tailed tits are brightly white. The sides and belly glow in pink, the very long tail feathers are black with white edges. Expressive sparkling black eyes in the white head, tiny beak. Long-tailed tits are not dedicated vegetarians; at times they come to winter bird feeders but here they are rather more interested in the piece of lard.

 

Friendly towards other birds and don’t show any shyness towards humans. They don’t belong to the tit family (Paridae) but to long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae).

 

Long-tailed tit observations: LINK