Alternative names: Bearded Reedling and Bearded Tit.
- Panurus biarmicus
Identification
Length: 16.5cm (6.5in). Male has a blue grey head, yellow eye, yellow bill, black drooping moustache, creamy brown back, long tail. Female lacks moustache and blue grey head.
Distribution
Very patchy range in Europe, much more widespread further east in Asia. In the Western Palearctic breeds in Britain and at scattered coastal sites from western France to Denmark, more widespread in Germany, including some inland areas and east to Poland and the Baltic States. Further south breeds in parts of central Spain and the Mediterranean coasts of Spain and France and the north Adriatic coast of Italy. More common and widespread in the east in Hungary and Romania, parts of Greece and central Turkey, and in the far east in the Volga Delta.
In Britain breeds in southern and eastern England, two main localities in northern England and also at one site in Scotland.
Most populations are basically sedentary but undergo irruptive movements when birds disperse to other reedbeds. Some may return in spring to original site others form the basis of a new colony. Winter range is similar to but usually rather more extensive than breeding range.
Vagrants recorded in Morocco, Algeria and Syria.
Taxonomy
Subspecies: Nominate biarmicus is found over most of Europe and the very similar but slightly paler russicus occurs from Austria to southern Russia and Turkey. The darker and more rufous kosswigi from Amik Golu in southern Turkey is probably now extinct.
Not a true tit. It is called Bearded Parrotbill in Asia.
Habitat
The main habitat is large reedbeds on fresh or brackish water, sometimes with scattered trees and bushes.
Behaviour
Lives in reedbeds, where its flight is low, slow and weak with whirring wingbeats. Feeds on spiders, insects, caterpillars and also seeds from the reed beds for part of the year. Builds a cup nest of dead leaves and other marsh plants, often producing 3 or 4 broods a year. Voice is a loud pinging - very distinctive.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Panurus biarmicus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
