Blue tit

 

Blue tit

blue tit
Blue tit and great tit at flight the upper bird is the Blue tit

Blue tit
Introduction

The Blue tit (Parus caeruleus or Cyanistes caeruleus) is a small permanent passerine bird in Hungary. Not so common that it’s relative the Great tit (Parus major). As I see outdoors there are approximately five times more Great tit than Blue tit in Hungary. This estimation seems correct based upon official datas as well.

[do_widget Text]

Size

The size of the bird is approximately 11-12cm. The wingspan of the bird is 17-20cm.

Colours

The blue tit is quite a colourful bird: it’s cheeks are white, it’s breast are yellow, the cap of the bird is blue, the wings are grey and white, with white stripes.

Distribution

In Hungary more than 100,000 pair of Blue tit nesting in the area of the country, perhaps more than 200,000. Very common bird: one can find this birds basically everywhere in the country in the hills or plain areas. The Blue tit likes the human settlements as well. Apart from Hungary the Blue tit can be find at the most parts of Europe, in the not so hot areas of Middle east and North Africa as well.

[do_widget Text]

Habitat

In Hungary the Blue tit is most common next to lakes. In winter comes into the settlements as well. Very often visit bird feeders as well.

Breeding

The birds mostly occupy holes in the trees, but likes artificial nest boxes as well. They usually lay 12 eggs. The pairs nests two times in a year. The birds laying on the eggs for 14 days usually. The chicks remain in the nest for an another 18-22 days.

Diet

The bird mostly eat insects and seeds. In same cases also eats the brain of sleeping bats in caves sometimes, as the most recent studies claim.

Interesting facts

In bird ringing stations the Blue tit is not very popular. The reason of this because this little bird is a brave one. Some birds when humans handle them gets shocked, but not this little fellow. This birds as I personally experienced several times, right after handling them start to knock on one’s bottom of the fingernail immediately after handling with great enthusiasm. If the bird succed this can often be painful. Other thing these birds do, not just knocks but try to pinch as well, which is perhaps more painful. Other passerine type birds are don’t have this braveness or determination apart from bigger birds like woodpeckers, Corvid birds or Birds of prey.

blue tit

Fatbirders Top 1000 Birding Websites

 Posted by at 3:20 pm