Species Of The Week Number 49: Tits

There are four species of tit to see in Meanwood, and they are with us all year round. At the moment they are moving around in mixed flocks of up to 30 or 40 birds and will do so until they start to pair off next Spring. Birds of a feather do indeed flock together.

Well, three of our tit species are flocking together. The Long-tailed Tits seem to like flocking by themselves, announcing their presence by distinctive chirping. Thats flocking - or allelomimesis if you want to be posh.

The Blue Tit is easiest to spot as it occurs in 98% of gardens and is the only tit with any blue on it. Also the world record for the blue tit laying the most number of eggs in 19 in a single clutch.

The Great Tit is also easy to spot as it is our biggest tit. It is also noisy and easy to hear but, as it has over 40 different vocalisations, its sometime tricky to identify.

The Coal Tit is smaller and fewer in number than its blue and great cousins but it still has well over half a million breeding territories in the UK. Its distinguished by the white stripe down the back of its head.

There are other tits resident in the UK but which you wont see it in Meanwood. The Crested Tit (number 5) hangs about in the Scottish pine forests. The virtually indistinguishable Marsh Tit and Willow Tit (Numbers 6 and 7) don't usually live round here either. The Penduline Tit (number 8) is so rare it only turned up in the UK 52 times before 2005.

There used to be a ninth UK tit, the Bearded Tit, but people found out its wasn't a proper tit so its name has been changed to a Bearded Reedling. The fact that it doesn't have a beard either didn't seem to matter. Should you be so minded you can sometimes spot this allegedly hirsute ex-tit at St Aidan's RSPB nature reserve in East Leeds.

Publicado el 05 de septiembre de 2023 por clunym