About the Long-Tailed Tit
Outside the breeding season the birds form flocks of related birds, sometimes 20 or 30 strong. These flocks will sometimes be joined by birds such as Treecreepers, Goldcrests or Nuthatches, presumably benefitting from the vigilance of so many pairs of eyes all looking out for danger. Long-tailed Tits are very sociable and constantly call to keep the flock together. They also roost together and, on cold nights, will form a dense huddle to keep each other warm.
Specifications
Scientific name
Aegithalos caudatus
Family
Aegithalidae
Habitat
woodlands, gardens and parks.
Food
insects, insect larvae and eggs. Readily feed on peanut cakes and Peanut Butter for Birds, particularly if sited closed to cover, or if the food is rubbed into bark or a similar rough service to make a “feeding stripe”. Often seen on kibbled sunflower hearts and may also use peanut feeders, nibbling off small chunks of nut.
Height
13-15cm
Weight
8-10g
Lifespan
1 - 3 years
Breeding time
April-June
Nest
a compact ball of moss and spider webs, lined with feathers and covered with lichen, usually in thorny vegetation. Entrance is near the top.
Sound
bubbling or rippling “zeee” calls and sudden “zee –zee-zee” contact notes are usually the first hint that a flock is passing through.
Characteristics
Long-tailed Tits are tiny birds, not much larger than a Wren but with very long tails. They are one of the first birds to start nest building, often before the leaves have unfurled on the hedges, which may explain why the nest is so well camouflaged. If a breeding attempt fails the birds will split up and seek out a closely related pair to help at the nest.
Children
9-8 white eggs with a few spots.
Characteristics
Photo gallery
