17-11-2023 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

The long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), also named long-tailed bushtit, is a common bird found throughout Europe and the Palearctic. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the long-tailed tit.

The long-tailed tit is globally widespread throughout temperate Northern Europe and the Palearctic, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of oak, ash and locally sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is often built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres (10 feet) above the ground.

6-10-2023 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

The long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), also named long-tailed bushtit, is a common bird found throughout Europe and the Palearctic. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the long-tailed tit.

This species has been described as a tiny (at only 13–15 cm (5–6 in) in length, including its 7–9 cm (3–3+1⁄2 in) tail), round-bodied tit with a short, stubby bill and a very long, narrow tail. The sexes look the same and young birds undergo a complete moult to adult plumage before the first winter. The plumage is mainly black and white, with variable amounts of grey and pink.

The long-tailed tit is globally widespread throughout temperate Northern Europe and the Palearctic, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of oak, ash and locally sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is often built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres (10 feet) above the ground.

28-9-2020 GANDIA MARJAL, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7278-Aegithalos-caudatus

24-4-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

17-12-2018 PLA DE CORRALS, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

The long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), also named long-tailed bushtit, is a common bird found throughout Europe and the Palearctic. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the long-tailed tit.

Due to high predation, there is a high nest failure rate. If nest failure occurs after the beginning of May, failed breeders will not try to re-nest, but may become helpers at a nest of another, usually related, pair. In one study, around 50% of nests had one or more helpers. By helping close relatives, helpers gain indirect fitness benefits by increasing the survivability of related offspring. Helpers may also gain greater access to mates and territories in the future. Helpers also gain experience raising young and therefore their future offspring have greater survivability rates.

Males and females are equally likely to become helpers. Parents may allow the care of helpers to be additive to their own efforts, or on the other extreme, they may reduce their efforts with the care of the helpers. Juvenile males have a higher survivability than juvenile females, although the survival rate for adults of the two sexes is the same. Offspring that were raised with helpers have a higher survivability than offspring raised without. Failed breeders that became helpers have a higher survivability than failed breeders who did not. This may be because of the reduced energy expenditure from sharing a nest. This is similar to acorn woodpeckers and green wood hoopoes. However, failed breeders that did not help are more likely to breed successfully in subsequent years, so there may be a cost of helping. This may be due to helpers having relatively poorer body conditions at the end of the breeding season, similar to pied kingfisher and white-winged chough. Successful breeders have a survivability rate around the survivability of failed breeders who became helpers.

Outside the breeding season they form compact flocks of six to seventeen birds, composed of family parties (parents and offspring) from the previous breeding season, together with any extra adults that helped to raise a brood. These flocks will occupy and defend territories against neighbouring flocks. The driving force behind the flocking behaviour is thought to be that of winter roosting, being susceptible to cold; huddling increases survival through cold nights.

From July to February, the non-breeding season, long-tailed tits form flocks of relatives and non-relatives, roosting communally. When the breeding season begins, the flocks break up, and the birds attempt to breed in monogamous pairs. Males remain within the winter territory, while females have a tendency to wander to neighbouring territories.

Pairs whose nests fail have three choices: try again, abandon nesting for the season or help at a neighbouring nest. It has been shown that failed pairs split and help at the nests of male relatives, recognition being established vocally. The helped nests have greater success due to higher provisioning rates and better nest defence. At the end of the breeding season, in June and July, the birds reform the winter flocks in their winter territory.

27-11-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

21-1-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

19-1-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

3-11-2017 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

The Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a common bird found throughout Europe and the Palearctic. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the Long-tailed tit.

The Long-tailed tit is a round-bodied tit with a short, stubby bill and a very long, narrow tail. The male and the female look the same and young birds undergo a complete molt to adult plumage before the first winter. The plumage is mainly black and white, with variable amounts of grey and pink.

Long-tailed tits are globally widespread throughout northern Europe and the Palearctic, into boreal Scandinavia, and south into the Mediterranean zone. These birds don't migrate and inhabit deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favoring edge habitats. They can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes, and hedges, farmland and riverine woodland, parks, and gardens.

Long-tailed tits are social birds. From July to February, the non-breeding season, they form flocks of relatives and non-relatives, roosting communally. When the breeding season begins, the flocks break up, and the birds attempt to breed in pairs. Males remain within the winter territory, while females usually wander to neighboring territories. At the end of the breeding season, in June and July, the birds reform the winter flocks in their winter territory. Long-tailed tits are diurnal energetic and noisy. When in flocks they issue constant contact calls and are often heard before they are seen. They have three main calls, a single high-pitched 'pit', a ‘triple trill’ eez-eez-eez, and a rattling 'schnuur'. The calls become faster and louder when the birds cross open ground or if an individual becomes separated from the group.

Long-tailed tits are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. Their breeding season starts in late February and early March. Pairs construct their nest from four materials: lichen, feathers, spider egg cocoons, and moss, with over 6,000 pieces used for a typical nest. The nest is a flexible sac with a small, round entrance on top, suspended either low in a gorse or bramble bush or high up in the forks of tree branches. The structural stability of the nest is provided by a mesh of moss and spider silk. The tiny leaves of the moss act as hooks and the spider silk of egg cocoons provides the loops; thus forming a natural form of velcro. The tit lines the outside with hundreds of flakes of pale lichens - this provides camouflage. Inside, it lines the nest with more than 2,000 downy feathers to insulate the nest. The female lays 6 to 8 eggs and incubates them between 2 and 3 weeks. The chicks are altricial (helpless) when they hatch and both parents feed them for 2 weeks until they fledge. Due to high predation, there is a high nest failure rate. If nest failure occurs after the beginning of May, the pair will not try to re-nest but may become helpers at a nest of another, usually related, pair. They will help to feed and raise a brood.

5-9-2017 RACO DE OLLA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

13-12-2016 MONTE CORONA, ADOR - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

The Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a common bird found throughout Europe and the Palearctic. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the Long-tailed tit.

The Long-tailed tit is a round-bodied tit with a short, stubby bill and a very long, narrow tail. The male and the female look the same and young birds undergo a complete molt to adult plumage before the first winter. The plumage is mainly black and white, with variable amounts of grey and pink.

Long-tailed tits are globally widespread throughout northern Europe and the Palearctic, into boreal Scandinavia, and south into the Mediterranean zone. These birds don't migrate and inhabit deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favoring edge habitats. They can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes, and hedges, farmland and riverine woodland, parks, and gardens.

Long-tailed tits are social birds. From July to February, the non-breeding season, they form flocks of relatives and non-relatives, roosting communally. When the breeding season begins, the flocks break up, and the birds attempt to breed in pairs. Males remain within the winter territory, while females usually wander to neighboring territories. At the end of the breeding season, in June and July, the birds reform the winter flocks in their winter territory. Long-tailed tits are diurnal energetic and noisy. When in flocks they issue constant contact calls and are often heard before they are seen. They have three main calls, a single high-pitched 'pit', a ‘triple trill’ eez-eez-eez, and a rattling 'schnuur'. The calls become faster and louder when the birds cross open ground or if an individual becomes separated from the group.

7-9-2016 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LONG TAILED TIT (Aegithalos caudatus)

The long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), also named long-tailed bushtit, is a common bird found throughout Europe and the Palearctic. The genus name Aegithalos was a term used by Aristotle for some European tits, including the long-tailed tit.

The long-tailed tit is globally widespread throughout temperate Northern Europe and the Palearctic, into boreal Scandinavia and south into the Mediterranean zone. It inhabits deciduous and mixed woodland with a well-developed shrub layer, favouring edge habitats. It can also be found in scrub, heathland with scattered trees, bushes and hedges, in farmland and riverine woodland, parks and gardens. The bird's year-round diet of insects and social foraging bias habitat choice in winter towards deciduous woodland, typically of oak, ash and locally sycamore species. For nesting, strong preference is shown towards scrub areas. The nest is often built in thorny bushes less than 3 metres (10 feet) above the ground.

The long-tailed tit is insectivorous throughout the year. It eats predominantly arthropods, preferring the eggs and larvae of moths and butterflies. Occasional vegetable matter (such as seeds) is taken in the autumn.

The nest of the long-tailed tit is constructed from four materials: lichen, feathers, spider egg cocoons and moss, with over 6,000 pieces used for a typical nest. The nest is a flexible sac with a small, round entrance at the top, suspended either low in a gorse or bramble bush or high up in the forks of tree branches. The structural stability of the nest is provided by a mesh of moss and spider silk; the tiny leaves of the moss act as hooks and the spider's silken thread provides the loops, thus producing a natural form of velcro. The tit lines the outside with hundreds of flakes of pale lichens to provide camouflage. The inside of the nest is lined with more than 2,000 downy feathers to provide insulation. The nests suffer a high rate of predation, with only 17% success.