Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus

Genus · Typical Long-tailed Tits Family · Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits
Observation tips Difficulty: EASY
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Forest deciduousForest mixedGardenUrban

In winter, they frequently visit feeders containing fat balls and seeds. They arrive as a noisy group, stay for a few minutes, and then vanish together quickly.

Long-tailed Tit
Stats
Wingspan16–19 cm
Weight6–10 g
Length13–15 cm
Lifespan wild2–3 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePendant
Clutch size6–12 eggs
Incubation12–14 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationNomadic
Social BehaviourFlocking

Diet: Insectivore

🦗Insects
🕷️Spiders
🐛Larvae
🥚Eggs

Habitat

🌳 Forest deciduous🌲🌳 Forest mixed🏡 Garden🏜️ Scrub wasteland🏙️ Urban
✦ Fun Fact

Long-tailed Tits practice 'altruism'. If a pair's own nest fails, they often help a relative feed their chicks. This increases the survival chances of the extended family.

About

A tiny, ball-shaped bird with a tail longer than its body. Its plumage is a mix of black, white, and pink. It is highly social and almost never seen alone. They are common in woodlands, hedgerows, and suburban gardens. They are not 'true' tits but belong to a separate family.

Behaviour

These birds live in tight-knit family groups of 6 to 20 individuals. They move through the canopy in a 'follow-the-leader' fashion. They emit soft, bubbling 'see-see-see' calls. Their nests are incredible oval domes made of lichen, moss, and spider silk. Spider silk allows the nest to stretch as the chicks grow.

Similar species

Eurasian Blue Tit
🐦
Eurasian Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Great Tit
🐦
Great Tit
Parus major
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