Page 351 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

TITS AND ALLIES
Order Passeriformes Family Timaliidae Species Panurus biarmicus
Bearded Tit pale brown bright blue- yellow eye
head
grey head
streaked big black
wings “moustache”
round
wings
rufous
tail
MALE
long FEMALE
tail
tawny-brown,
cream, and
black back
IN FLIGHT
whitish eye of pale tawny
male (black in underside
black back female)
black sides MALE
of tail
long tawny-
brown tail
JUVENILE

ore closely related to the babblers and
Mparrotbills of Asia than the tits, the Bearded Tit is
one of Europe’s most restricted birds in terms of habitat. FLIGHT: low, fast, over reeds; whirring, trailing
It is entirely dependent on extensive reedbeds, although long tail.
it will briefly occupy reedmace or tall, wet grass in
winter when population pressure forces some to leave
reedbeds to look for new sites. It can be hard to see,
especially on windy days, but since it calls frequently
it can usually be located quite easily. If nothing else,
a glimpse of a tawny, long-tailed shape flitting across
a gap in the reeds is usually forthcoming.
VOICE Variations on loud, metallic,“pinging” psching,
pink, or ping, sometimes in loud, ringing chorus, often
sporadic; quiet at times.
NESTING Deep cup of leaves, stems, and reed flower
heads in reed litter under standing reeds in water;
5–7 eggs; 2 or 3 broods;April–August. REEDBED INHABITANT
FEEDING Takes caterpillars from reed stems and reed Patience and calm weather are needed for a view like this of a Bearded
seeds from flower heads and leaf litter or mud below. Tit in its reedbed habitat, but they are sometimes surprisingly tame.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Extremely local, breeding in
reedbeds in E UK, N and S France,
Low Countries, Baltic area,
E Spain, S Portugal, Italy, and
shorter entirely SE Europe. Resident in winter,
tail different occasionally spilling into other
colour wetland habitats.
plainer
REED WARBLER LONG-TAILED TIT Seen in the UK
see p.324 see p.348 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 12.5cm (5in) Wingspan 16–18cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7in) Weight 12–18g ( 7 ⁄16 – 5 ⁄8oz)
Social Loose flocks Lifespan 2–3 years Status Secure†
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