Page 343 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

TITS AND ALLIES
Families Paridae, Aegithalidae, Timaliidae, Remizidae
TITS AND ALLIES

N THIS GROUP, there are the “true” tits, in the These are primarily
Igenus Parus, together with several “imposters”: woodland species,
the Bearded Tit (really a parrotbill), the Long- timing their breeding
tailed Tit, and the Penduline Tit.All are more or to the sudden
less social, the Penduline Tit least so; most are appearance of vast
woodland birds, but Bearded and Penduline Tits quantities of caterpillars
live in or around reedbeds. on tree foliage
The true tits are rather small or very small birds (something that climate
(the Coal Tit is one of Europe’s tiniest species), change is throwing out
either green, blue, yellow, and white or mixtures of synchronization,
of dull grey-brown, buff, white, and black. causing severe problems
Several species come to garden feeders and are in places). Garden
familiar favourites (especially the Blue and Great breeders do less well,
Tits, but even Crested Tits visit feeders where but survive the winter SUSPENDED NEST
The nest of a Penduline Tit is a
they are common). better with artificial masterpiece of construction hung
feeding. In winter, from a slender, swaying twig.
POPULAR BIRD mixed groups of tits
For many, the Blue Tit is forage through woods, hedgerows, and gardens,
the most typical, and
favourite, garden visitor. typically mostly Blue and Great Tits with Coal,
Marsh, and Willow Tits in ones and twos around
the fringe.They take advantage of greater
DENSE COLONIES numbers, being better able to find food and
Gannet colonies, usually along cliff also to spot approaching predators since
ledges and steep slopes, along cliff many pairs of eyes are better than one.
ledges and steep slopes.

UNIQUE CREST
Other tits in the world have
crests, but the headgear of the
Crested Tit is unlike that of any
other woodland bird in Europe.

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