Tihaseaasta
2015 on tihase aasta.
Long-tailed tits are relatives of tits
Photos Arne Ader
Translation Liis
Long-tailed tit
Long-tailed tit Sabatihane Aegithalos caudatus
Attentive readers may already have noticed that the long-tailed tits do not belong to the family Paridae with our other tits, but to a family of their own, Aegithalidae.
The long-tailed tits are not particularly strictly vegetarians and when they occasionally come to a birdfeeder they are rather more interested in the piece of lard. They are most likely to be encountered in mixed or broadleaf forests and thickets, but they are not very keen on staying in one place so that they can be examined at leisure. The winter numbers vary over years between ten thousand and a hundred thousand, depending on the number of passing migrants.
They move around in small groups that usually consist of a family from the previous summer, sometimes even several families. Both sexes have similar plumages. The head, neck and chest of adults are covered in bright white plumage, with dark button eyes and beak. The feathers on the sides and belly glow in pink; the tail is longer than the bird’s body, and the very long tail feathers are black with white edges. While the length of the bird varies between 13 and 15 centimetres the tail length is around 7-9 centimetres. The weight of larger individuals is up to 10 grams.
They are friendly towards other passerines and are not afraid of humans.
Long-tailed tit observations: LINK
Long-tailed tit
On the website of the „Bird of the Year“ you can read that great tits have cleverness in their genes: LINK
There is interesting reading in journal Novaator.
Great tits establish their owner’s rights already in January with the “Teacher, teacher ” territorial call: LINK
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