The tit family includes approximately 65 species of small birds, ranging in body length from 100–180 mm and weighing from 7 grams to 20–25 grams. In Europe, the tit is one of the largest birds, with a large body and long tail, and a wingspan reaching 30 centimeters. This fascinating bird is found in many places around the world.
Appearance
The beak of these birds is shortThe titmouse's plumage is cone-shaped, slightly rounded at the top and flattened at the sides. The titmouse's plumage is very beautiful and bright. This bird stands out among all other birds with its yellow belly with a small "tie" on it. The "tie" is a black stripe that extends from the chest to the rump. A black cap adorns the head, with an unusual, metallic blue sheen. The cheeks are white, and a similarly white and yellow spot is located on the back of the bird's head. The throat and chest, although black, have a pleasant blue shimmer. The back is green-yellow or gray-blue, with a predominant olive tint.
The variety of shades and colours makes the tit unusually beautiful and particularly noticeable in winter, against the white background of snow.
The small nostrils are covered with inconspicuous bristle-like feathers. The feet are quite strong, with sturdy toes and sharp, strongly curved claws. This foot structure helps the tit cling to branches even in strong winds. The wings are fairly short and rounded at the tip. The tail consists of 12 tail feathers., straight, sometimes with a small cutout.
Differences between tits in pairs
Male and female tits have identical plumage, differing only in that the older the bird, the brighter its plumage. Birds shed their feathers once a year. For nesting, they choose large, empty tree cavities that were previously occupied by woodpeckers; simple tree cavities are also suitable. When choosing a nesting site, tits prefer to nest in areas previously occupied by lesser spotted woodpeckers. Some species, such as the great tit and the tufted tit, can excavate their own cavities.
For their nests, tits collect building materials:
- various types of moss;
- animal wool;
- The presence of feathers is no exception.
They use all of this in their nesting material. Both males and females collect nesting materials, but each has a different task. Only males collect moss and lichen, while females collect lighter materials (wool, feathers).
Diet of tits
Tits feed on insects and also enjoy plant foods, particularly the seeds of spruce and pine cones. Some species of tits prefer to peck at tree bark and extract various larvae and insects from it, which can look like this: as if the woodpecker had changed its plumage and continues to do his usual business.
The life of tits
Tits are unpretentious birds and can be found year-round. They live in nests, where they also lay their clutches. The number of eggs in a nest can range from 3-5 to much larger: 14-16. All tits' eggs are white with small reddish-brown spots. They begin nesting early, which helps them make their nests very warm, which protects these birds from cold, frosty winter days. Once the chicks hatch, the mother stays with them for a very long time, keeping them warm. has a beneficial effect on the growth of chicksWith the onset of autumn, tits gather in large flocks. These flocks do not always consist solely of different species of tits; sometimes they include nuthatches, pikas, and woodpeckers.
Why a titmouse?
Many people mistakenly believe that the birds were named "tits" because of their eponymous color, although it's practically nonexistent in their plumage, only slight shades. There's no blue color at all in their plumage. So what's the secret behind this bird's name? To answer this question, just listen to the titmouse's song. These birds whistle melodically and loudly, their whistle sounding something like "seeee-seeee," which is how they got their name. And then... began to divide into varietiesThere are currently a decent number of subspecies of this bird genus:
- long-tailed;
- crested;
- Taiwanese;
- blue tit;
- whiskered tit;
- ladle;
- nut (puffy);
- Great tit (the photo of which confirms the beauty of this species).
These are far from all the subspecies of this interesting bird. Tits are quite curious and very dexterous birdsThey can do something not all birds can. By catching their claws on any surface, a titmouse can begin to somersault. If the bird doesn't yet have a nest and has to sleep on tree branches, it can easily manage this; during sleep, the titmouse turns into a small gray ball. This ability helps it endure any cold.
All these bird species have one thing in common: they are different from other birds. Every day, you can observe how dexterously they navigate their daily lives outside. Each titmouse species, of course, has its own habits and character, but they all delight the eye with their beauty and pleasant, melodic song.
