Long-tailed tits
Encyclopedia
The long-tailed tits or bushtits, Aegithalidae, are a family of small passerine bird
s. The family contains 13 species in four genera.
habitats. The species in the genus Aegithalos
prefer deciduous or mixed deciduous forests, while the tiny Pygmy Tit is found mostly in montane coniferous forest. The Bushtit is found in a wide range of habitats, including on occasion sagebrush
and other arid shrublands, but is most common in mixed woodland. Most species in this family live in mountainous habitats in and around the Himalayas, and all are distributed in Eurasia except the Bushtit
, which is native to western North America. The Long-tailed Tit
has the most widespread distribution of any species of Aegithalidae, occurring across Eurasia from Britain to Japan. Two species in contrast have tiny distributions, the Burmese Tit, which is entirely restricted to two mountains in Burma, and the Pygmy Tit, which is restricted to the mountains of western Java
. The species in this family are generally not migratory
, although the Long-tailed Tit
is prone to dispersing in the northern edges of its range (particularly in Siberia). Many mountainous species move to lower ground during the winter.
They are small birds, measuring 9 to 14 cm (3.5 to 5.5 in) in length, including the relatively long tail, and weighing just 4.5 to 9 g (0.158732829473004 to 0.317465658946008 oz). Their plumage
is typically dull grey or brown, although some species have white markings and the Long-tailed Tit has some pinkish colour. In contrast to the rest of the family the two Leptopoecile
tit-warblers are quite brightly coloured, having violet and blue plumage. The Crested Tit-warbler is the only member of the family to have a crest. The bills
in this family are tiny, short and conical in shape. The wings are short and rounded and the legs are relatively long.
They are omnivorous
, primarily eating insects and other invertebrates. Plant material is taken occasionally during the winter. The family generally forages in arboreally, usually in the shrub layer or canopy, and seldom visits the ground. Prey is generally glean from branches, leaves and buds, more rarely is it taken in the air. While foraging this agile family may hang upside down on branches (although this behaviour is not thought to occur in the tit-warblers) and even manipulate branches and leaves in order to locate hidden food.
Birds in this family live in flocks of 6 to 12 for a large part of the year. They maintain contact with "churring" calls; their songs are quiet.
The family generally has a monogamous breeding system. Pairs may be aided by helpers
, where a related individual (or more than one) helps the established pair raise the young. While this has only been recorded in two species, this probably reflects a lack of information. Aegithalids make domed, bag-like, nests of woven cobweb
s and lichen
, which they line with feathers. They make the nests in trees with thick foliage, making them difficult for predators to find. The clutch comprises 6 to 10 white eggs, which in many of the species have red speckles. Adults incubate the eggs for 13 to 14 days; young stay in the nest for 16 to 17 days. At least in the two well-studied species (the Long-tailed Tit and the Bushtit), it is likely that only the female incubates. Young chicks are fed exclusively on insects and spiders.
The Pygmy Tit
is placed in this family because it moves around in flocks and its nests resemble the long-tailed tits', but information about it is so scanty that the placement is only provisional. The Burmese Tit is sometimes treated as conspecific with the Black-browed Tit
.
There are 13 species in 4 genera.
Aegithalos
Psaltriparus
Psaltria
Leptopoecile
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s. The family contains 13 species in four genera.
Distribution and habitat
All the Aegithalidae are forest birds, particularly forest edge and understoryUnderstory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
habitats. The species in the genus Aegithalos
Aegithalos
Aegithalos is a songbird genus in the family Aegithalidae.It contains the following species:* White-necklaced Tit, Aegithalos fuliginosus* Rufous-fronted Tit, Aegithalos iouschistos* Black-browed Tit, Aegithalos bonvaloti...
prefer deciduous or mixed deciduous forests, while the tiny Pygmy Tit is found mostly in montane coniferous forest. The Bushtit is found in a wide range of habitats, including on occasion sagebrush
Sagebrush
Sagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
and other arid shrublands, but is most common in mixed woodland. Most species in this family live in mountainous habitats in and around the Himalayas, and all are distributed in Eurasia except the Bushtit
Bushtit
The Bushtit is a long-tailed tit found in North America. It is the only species in the family found in the New World, and the only member of the genus Psaltriparus....
, which is native to western North America. The Long-tailed Tit
Long-tailed Tit
The Long-tailed Tit or Long-tailed Bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996...
has the most widespread distribution of any species of Aegithalidae, occurring across Eurasia from Britain to Japan. Two species in contrast have tiny distributions, the Burmese Tit, which is entirely restricted to two mountains in Burma, and the Pygmy Tit, which is restricted to the mountains of western Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
. The species in this family are generally not migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, although the Long-tailed Tit
Long-tailed Tit
The Long-tailed Tit or Long-tailed Bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996...
is prone to dispersing in the northern edges of its range (particularly in Siberia). Many mountainous species move to lower ground during the winter.
Description
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is typically dull grey or brown, although some species have white markings and the Long-tailed Tit has some pinkish colour. In contrast to the rest of the family the two Leptopoecile
Leptopoecile
Leptopoecile is a genus of bird in the long-tailed tit family Aegithalidae. The genus was once placed in the large family Sylviidae, but analysis of mitochondrial DNA placed it with the long-tailed tits.It contains the following species:...
tit-warblers are quite brightly coloured, having violet and blue plumage. The Crested Tit-warbler is the only member of the family to have a crest. The bills
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
in this family are tiny, short and conical in shape. The wings are short and rounded and the legs are relatively long.
They are omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
, primarily eating insects and other invertebrates. Plant material is taken occasionally during the winter. The family generally forages in arboreally, usually in the shrub layer or canopy, and seldom visits the ground. Prey is generally glean from branches, leaves and buds, more rarely is it taken in the air. While foraging this agile family may hang upside down on branches (although this behaviour is not thought to occur in the tit-warblers) and even manipulate branches and leaves in order to locate hidden food.
Birds in this family live in flocks of 6 to 12 for a large part of the year. They maintain contact with "churring" calls; their songs are quiet.
The family generally has a monogamous breeding system. Pairs may be aided by helpers
Helpers at the nest
Helpers at the nest is a term used in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology to describe a social structure in which juveniles and sexually mature adolescents of either one or both sexes, remain in association with their parents and help them raise subsequent broods or litters, instead of...
, where a related individual (or more than one) helps the established pair raise the young. While this has only been recorded in two species, this probably reflects a lack of information. Aegithalids make domed, bag-like, nests of woven cobweb
Cobweb
-Animals:* Cobweb or spider web, silken web made by spiders* Cobweb spider or tangle web spider, any of the many spiders in the family Theridiidae* Cobwebbing, a pattern of fine lines on the face of a horse, zebra or other equid: see horse Primitive markings...
s and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
, which they line with feathers. They make the nests in trees with thick foliage, making them difficult for predators to find. The clutch comprises 6 to 10 white eggs, which in many of the species have red speckles. Adults incubate the eggs for 13 to 14 days; young stay in the nest for 16 to 17 days. At least in the two well-studied species (the Long-tailed Tit and the Bushtit), it is likely that only the female incubates. Young chicks are fed exclusively on insects and spiders.
Classification
Pygmy Tit
The Pygmy Tit is a species of bird in the long-tailed tit family Aegithalidae. It is monotypic within the genus Psaltria. The species was once placed, along with the rest of its family, with the true tits, Paridae...
is placed in this family because it moves around in flocks and its nests resemble the long-tailed tits', but information about it is so scanty that the placement is only provisional. The Burmese Tit is sometimes treated as conspecific with the Black-browed Tit
Black-browed Tit
and and and [[The Black-browed Tit is a species of [[bird]] in the [[Aegithalidae]] family. It is found in [[China]] and [[Burma]] and [[Nepal]] . Its natural [[habitat]]s are boreal [[forest]]s and temperate forests. It was formerly considered [[conspecific]] with the [[Rufous-fronted Tit]] and...
.
There are 13 species in 4 genera.
Aegithalos
Aegithalos
Aegithalos is a songbird genus in the family Aegithalidae.It contains the following species:* White-necklaced Tit, Aegithalos fuliginosus* Rufous-fronted Tit, Aegithalos iouschistos* Black-browed Tit, Aegithalos bonvaloti...
- White-necklaced TitWhite-necklaced TitThe White-necklaced Tit is a species of bird in the Aegithalidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
Aegithalos fuliginosus - Silver-throated Tit Aegithalos glaucogularis
- Rufous-fronted TitRufous-fronted TitThe Rufous-fronted Tit is a small passerine bird of the eastern and central Himalayas belonging to the long-tailed tit family, Aegithalidae. It forms a superspecies with the Black-browed Tit of China and northern Burma and the White-throated Tit of the western Himalayas...
Aegithalos iouschistos - Black-browed TitBlack-browed Titand and and [[The Black-browed Tit is a species of [[bird]] in the [[Aegithalidae]] family. It is found in [[China]] and [[Burma]] and [[Nepal]] . Its natural [[habitat]]s are boreal [[forest]]s and temperate forests. It was formerly considered [[conspecific]] with the [[Rufous-fronted Tit]] and...
Aegithalos bonvaloti - Burmese Tit Aegithalos sharpei
- White-cheeked TitWhite-cheeked TitThe White-cheeked Bushtit , also known as the White-cheeked Tit, is a species of bird in the Aegithalidae family. It is found in Afghanistan, Kashmir region, and Pakistan.-References:...
Aegithalos leucogenys - White-throated TitWhite-throated TitThe White-throated Bushtit , also known as the White-throated Tit, is a species of bird in the Aegithalidae family. It is found in India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
Aegithalos niveogularis - Long-tailed TitLong-tailed TitThe Long-tailed Tit or Long-tailed Bushtit is a common bird found throughout Europe and Asia. There are several extensive accounts of this species, most notably Cramp and Perrins, 1993; Gaston, 1973; and Harrap and Quinn, 1996...
Aegithalos caudatus - Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
Psaltriparus
- BushtitBushtitThe Bushtit is a long-tailed tit found in North America. It is the only species in the family found in the New World, and the only member of the genus Psaltriparus....
, Psaltriparus minimus
Psaltria
- Pygmy TitPygmy TitThe Pygmy Tit is a species of bird in the long-tailed tit family Aegithalidae. It is monotypic within the genus Psaltria. The species was once placed, along with the rest of its family, with the true tits, Paridae...
, Psaltria exilis
Leptopoecile
Leptopoecile
Leptopoecile is a genus of bird in the long-tailed tit family Aegithalidae. The genus was once placed in the large family Sylviidae, but analysis of mitochondrial DNA placed it with the long-tailed tits.It contains the following species:...
- White-browed Tit-warblerWhite-browed Tit-warblerThe White-browed Tit-warbler is a species of bird in the Aegithalidae family. It is found in China, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.Its natural habitat is boreal forests....
Leptopoecile sophiae - Crested Tit-warblerCrested Tit-warblerThe Crested Tit-warbler is a species of bird in the Aegithalidae family.It is found in China and possibly India.Its natural habitat is boreal forests.-References:...
Leptopoecile elegans
External links
- Long-tailed Tits videos on the Internet Bird Collection