Long-tailed tit

The long-tailed tit, also known as the long-tailed bushtit, is a captivating little bird commonly found across Europe and the Palearctic region. First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, this bird belongs to the Aegithalidae family, which includes three genera. One of the most fascinating aspects of the long-tailed tit is its remarkable diversity, with 17 recognized subspecies exhibiting various geographical variations.

If you spot one, you’ll notice its distinctive appearance: a tiny, round body, a short bill, and a long, narrow tail. Its plumage is a striking mix of black, white, grey, and pink.

One way to identify long-tailed tits is by their vocalizations. They have three main calls: a high-pitched 'pit,' a 'triple trill' that sounds like "eez-eez-eez" and a rattling 'schnuur.' These birds primarily feed on insects, particularly favoring arthropods such as moth and butterfly eggs and larvae.

Their nests are marvels of avian architecture, constructed from lichen, feathers, spider egg cocoons, and moss. It’s estimated that they use over 6,000 pieces to build a single nest!

Socially, long-tailed tits are intriguing. Outside the breeding season, they form flocks, but during the breeding season, they pair up monogamously. If a pair fails to breed, they often become helpers at other nests, thereby boosting the survival chances of related offspring.

Despite being common and classified as a 'species of least concern' in terms of conservation, long-tailed tits are vulnerable to extreme cold weather. Harsh winters can lead to population losses of up to 80%. However, their populations tend to recover quickly due to their high reproductive potential.