- Cyanistes teneriffae
Identification
10.5-12cm. Blue back, blue crown, dark blue line passing through the eye, white cheeks, forehead, and a bar on the wing, blue nape, wings and tail, yellow underparts with dark line down the abdomen.
Distribution
The North African Blue Tit Cyanistes t. ultramarinus occur from sea level to 2100 m in the Atlas mountain range of Morocco and Tunisia. Some vagrant birds in winter can easily reach the latitude of 28 dg N in southern contry oasis. Subspecies cyrenaicae is found in Libya, while palmensis, teneriffae, ombriosus, and degener are found in different parts of the Canary Islands.
Taxonomy
Some authors have treated virtually every one of the subspecies described above as independent full species. Certain other authorities, principally the Howard & Moore 2003 edition, treats the African Blue Tit as several subspecies under Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus.
Final taxonomic note is that older books will have not the genus Cyanistes, instead this and other tits of that genus were believed to belong to Parus.
Habitat
Deciduous and mixed woodlands.
Behaviour
It builds a nest from moss, wool, hair and feathers, and 7-8 eggs are laid in April or May.
