Bird Name:
Blue tit
Latin Name:
Cyanistes caeruleus (formerly Parus caeruleus)
Status:
Least concern
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Cyanistes
Species: C. caeruleus
General information:
These are lively, active birds. They are welcomed by gardeners because they eat aphids.
Physical Description:
Blue tits have a distinctive blue crown edged in white, with a narrow black stripe running back through each eye. The cheeks are white. Underparts are bright yellow in color and the back is grayish. There is a white bar across the top of their blue wings. The tail is blue. Sexes similar but females are duller. The average length is 12 cm.
Diet:
Their diet consists of invertebrates, seeds and nuts.
Habitat:
Range is throughout Europe with the exception of northern Scandinavia. They are also present in north-western Africa. Blue tits reside in woodland areas, parks and gardens. They nest in tree holes or nest boxes. Pairs will return to the same holes each season, and when one pair dies another pair will take possession.
Reproduction:
The clutch size of the Blue tit is 7 to 16 eggs that are white with reddish brown markings. Incubation takes 12 to 13 days and is done solely by female, although male will bring her food. The young are fed by both parents. Young Blue tits leave the nest before they are able to fly properly and are therefore vulnerable to predators (mainly cats). Those that do survive are distinguished as young by their yellowish cheeks. The large clutch size is related to the high mortality.
