(→External Links: New Video search created) |
|||
| (16 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | |||
'''Alternative names: Blue Tit; Common Blue Tit; European Blue Tit''' | '''Alternative names: Blue Tit; Common Blue Tit; European Blue Tit''' | ||
| + | [[Image:Blue_Tit_winter.jpg|thumb|450px|right|'''Adult'''. Photo by {{user|nigelblake|Nigel Blake}}<br />Bedfordshire, [[UK]], December 2006]] | ||
;[[:Category:Cyanistes|Cyanistes]] caeruleus | ;[[:Category:Cyanistes|Cyanistes]] caeruleus | ||
| − | + | ''Parus caeruleus'' | |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 11–12 cm (4¼-4¾ in) | ||
*Yellow and green | *Yellow and green | ||
*Blue cap | *Blue cap | ||
*White face | *White face | ||
*Black eye stripe | *Black eye stripe | ||
| − | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
The commonest European tit, abundant and widespread across much of the Western Palearctic. Breeds in the [[British Isles]], [[France]], and Iberia east to Caspian reaching north to about 67 degrees north in [[Norway]] and 62 degrees north in [[Russia]]. Occurs along the whole of the northern coast of the Mediterranean and most of the major islands, over most of [[Turkey]] (except southeast), the southern Crimea and the Caucasus. Vagrant to [[Malta]] and on [[Mount Hermon]] in [[Israel]]. | The commonest European tit, abundant and widespread across much of the Western Palearctic. Breeds in the [[British Isles]], [[France]], and Iberia east to Caspian reaching north to about 67 degrees north in [[Norway]] and 62 degrees north in [[Russia]]. Occurs along the whole of the northern coast of the Mediterranean and most of the major islands, over most of [[Turkey]] (except southeast), the southern Crimea and the Caucasus. Vagrant to [[Malta]] and on [[Mount Hermon]] in [[Israel]]. | ||
Mainly resident but irruptive in parts of range and an altitudinal migrant in others. | Mainly resident but irruptive in parts of range and an altitudinal migrant in others. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
Nominate subspecies ''caeruleus'' is a rare but regular winter visitor to Britain. | Nominate subspecies ''caeruleus'' is a rare but regular winter visitor to Britain. | ||
| + | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | [[Image:Blue_tit_juv_by_stevelin.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br /> Photo by {{user|stevelin|stevelin}}<br />[[Ireland]], June 2010]] | ||
| + | Birds breeding in the [[Canary Islands]], across northwest [[Africa]] and in northeast [[Libya]] are now separated as [[African Blue Tit]] (''Cyanistes teneriffae'') | ||
Hybridizes with [[Azure Tit]] where ranges overlap. | Hybridizes with [[Azure Tit]] where ranges overlap. | ||
| + | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| + | There are 9 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>: | ||
| + | *Nominate race ''caeruleus'' is found across much of [[Europe]] from north [[Spain]] to [[Russia]], north to Scandinavia and south to [[Greece]]. | ||
| + | *Fractionally smaller [[British Isles]] race ''obscurus'' is greener above with duller white wing-markings. | ||
| + | *Race ''ogliastrae'' from southern Iberia, [[Corsica]], and [[Sardinia]] has duller upperparts and deeper yellow below. | ||
| + | *[[Balearic Islands|Balearic]] race ''balearicus'' has paler, greyer upperparts and whiter belly. | ||
| + | *Race ''satunini'' from Crimea, the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and [[Turkey (country)|Turkey]] is close to nominate but slightly paler above and below. | ||
| + | *Race ''calamensis'' from Southern [[Greece]] and Greek islands is similar in plumage but slightly smaller. | ||
| + | *''orientalis'' from Urals is paler above than nominate but clearer yellow, less green-tinged below. | ||
| + | *C. c. raddei'': North [[Iran]] | ||
| + | *''C. c. persicus'': South West Iran (Zagros Mountains) | ||
| − | + | [[Image:IMG 4387-masks filtered.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|John+Crabb|John Crabb}}<br />[[Somerset]], April 2011]] | |
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Mainly deciduous woodland, often in mixed woods but does not commonly feed in conifers. Also hedgerows, copses and very frequently in gardens and town parks. In winter occurs in reedbeds and areas of scrub, usually feeds high in trees and bushes and common visitor to garden birdtables. | Mainly deciduous woodland, often in mixed woods but does not commonly feed in conifers. Also hedgerows, copses and very frequently in gardens and town parks. In winter occurs in reedbeds and areas of scrub, usually feeds high in trees and bushes and common visitor to garden birdtables. | ||
| − | + | ==Behaviour== | |
| − | == | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
Very acrobatic while it searches for seeds, insects, nuts etc. In winter forms large flocks with other tits. | Very acrobatic while it searches for seeds, insects, nuts etc. In winter forms large flocks with other tits. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| − | Will nest in nestholes inside trees or nestboxes. | + | Will nest in nestholes inside trees or nestboxes. The nest is built by the female alone, however, the male feeds the female while she is incubating the eggs. The clutch consists of 7-12 white eggs with brownish-red markings. Incubation takes 13-15 days, the young fledging after a further 18-21 days. Both adults care for the young. |
| − | == | + | ====Vocalisation==== |
| − | = | + | '''Call''': 2-3 ''Tsee'' notes followed by trill, which can be heard all year round. |
| − | 2-3 Tsee notes followed by trill, which can be heard all year round. | + | ==References== |
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Bird Watching Magazine | ||
| + | #BTO | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
| + | ==External Links== | ||
| + | {{GSearch|"Cyanistes caeruleus" {{!}} "Parus caeruleus" {{!}} "Eurasian Blue Tit" {{!}} "Blue Tit" {{!}} "Common Blue Tit" {{!}} "European Blue Tit"}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{VSearch|"Cyanistes caeruleus" {{!}} "Parus caeruleus" {{!}} "Eurasian Blue Tit" {{!}} "Blue Tit" {{!}} "Common Blue Tit" {{!}} "European Blue Tit"}} | ||
| + | {{GS-checked}}1 | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cyanistes]] | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Cyanistes]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:26, 12 February 2023
Alternative names: Blue Tit; Common Blue Tit; European Blue Tit
- Cyanistes caeruleus
Parus caeruleus
Identification
11–12 cm (4¼-4¾ in)
- Yellow and green
- Blue cap
- White face
- Black eye stripe
Distribution
The commonest European tit, abundant and widespread across much of the Western Palearctic. Breeds in the British Isles, France, and Iberia east to Caspian reaching north to about 67 degrees north in Norway and 62 degrees north in Russia. Occurs along the whole of the northern coast of the Mediterranean and most of the major islands, over most of Turkey (except southeast), the southern Crimea and the Caucasus. Vagrant to Malta and on Mount Hermon in Israel.
Mainly resident but irruptive in parts of range and an altitudinal migrant in others.
Nominate subspecies caeruleus is a rare but regular winter visitor to Britain.
Taxonomy
Birds breeding in the Canary Islands, across northwest Africa and in northeast Libya are now separated as African Blue Tit (Cyanistes teneriffae)
Hybridizes with Azure Tit where ranges overlap.
Subspecies
There are 9 subspecies[1]:
- Nominate race caeruleus is found across much of Europe from north Spain to Russia, north to Scandinavia and south to Greece.
- Fractionally smaller British Isles race obscurus is greener above with duller white wing-markings.
- Race ogliastrae from southern Iberia, Corsica, and Sardinia has duller upperparts and deeper yellow below.
- Balearic race balearicus has paler, greyer upperparts and whiter belly.
- Race satunini from Crimea, the Caucasus, Transcaucasia and Turkey is close to nominate but slightly paler above and below.
- Race calamensis from Southern Greece and Greek islands is similar in plumage but slightly smaller.
- orientalis from Urals is paler above than nominate but clearer yellow, less green-tinged below.
- C. c. raddei: North Iran
- C. c. persicus: South West Iran (Zagros Mountains)
Habitat
Mainly deciduous woodland, often in mixed woods but does not commonly feed in conifers. Also hedgerows, copses and very frequently in gardens and town parks. In winter occurs in reedbeds and areas of scrub, usually feeds high in trees and bushes and common visitor to garden birdtables.
Behaviour
Diet
Very acrobatic while it searches for seeds, insects, nuts etc. In winter forms large flocks with other tits.
Breeding
Will nest in nestholes inside trees or nestboxes. The nest is built by the female alone, however, the male feeds the female while she is incubating the eggs. The clutch consists of 7-12 white eggs with brownish-red markings. Incubation takes 13-15 days, the young fledging after a further 18-21 days. Both adults care for the young.
Vocalisation
Call: 2-3 Tsee notes followed by trill, which can be heard all year round.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Bird Watching Magazine
- BTO
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Eurasian Blue Tit. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 11 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Blue_Tit
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
