Long-tailed Tit Bird Facts (Aegithalos caudatus)

The Long-tailed Tit is a tiny, round-bodied bird with a distinctive long tail that often exceeds the length of its body. Its plumage is primarily black and white, with varying shades of pink on the breast and shoulders, giving it a delicate, fluffy appearance.

Adults have a white head with black stripes above the eyes, while juveniles display duller colours, shorter, browner tails, and lack pink tones. The species shows little seasonal variation in plumage, and males and females are alike in appearance and size.

The Long-tailed Tit can be found in Woodland habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit can be found in Garden habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Urban habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Long-tailed Tit is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Long-tailed Tits inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks, and gardens across Europe and Asia. They prefer areas with dense undergrowth and a good variety of tree species, particularly favouring edge habitats.

In the UK, they are widespread residents, found throughout England, Wales, and Scotland, except for the northernmost parts. Their range has expanded northward in recent decades, possibly due to milder winters.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Long-tailed Tit. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Gibraltar Morocco Tunisia

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Long-tailed Tit displays remarkable agility, moving acrobatically through trees and shrubs, often hanging upside down to forage. Their ability to navigate complex branch structures with their tiny bodies and long tails demonstrates exceptional manoeuvrability.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a tiny bird weighing only 7-9 grams, the Long-tailed Tit has limited physical strength. Their delicate build is adapted for agility rather than power, allowing them to glean insects from leaves and bark efficiently.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Long-tailed Tits show high adaptability, thriving in various habitats from woodlands to urban gardens. Their ability to switch diets seasonally, huddle for warmth in extreme cold, and employ cooperative breeding strategies indicates strong adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

These birds are generally non-aggressive, preferring to live in social flocks and even assist relatives in raising young. Their cooperative nature and tendency to avoid confrontation suggest low aggression levels, though they may defend nests during breeding season.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Despite their small size, Long-tailed Tits demonstrate moderate endurance. They can survive harsh winters by huddling together and maintain energy through efficient foraging. However, their tiny bodies limit long-term endurance compared to larger species.

Long-tailed Tits primarily feed on small insects, spiders, caterpillars and the eggs of moths, which they glean from tree bark and leaves.

In Autumn and winter, they supplement their diet with seeds and occasionally visit garden feeders, showing a preference for suet and peanuts. They are also sometimes observed to drink sap.

When tackling a particularly large insect, they may acrobatically twirl into a precarious one-footed upside-down position, gripping the prey with its other foot.

Long-tailed Tits are highly social, often seen in small, noisy flocks outside the breeding season. They move acrobatically through trees and shrubs, hanging upside down to forage.

These birds huddle together in tight rows during cold nights for warmth, showcasing their cooperative nature.

They are a lively, energetic species and are tolerant of the presence of other similar-sized birds, although they seem less enthusiastic at being in close proximity to humans.

Long-tailed Tits are vocal birds, frequently emitting high-pitched, rippling 'si-si-si' or 'tsee-tsee-tsee' calls. These contact calls help maintain flock cohesion.

During the breeding season, they produce a softer, more melodious warbling song, often described as a gentle 'prrrt-prrrt-prrrt'.

Long-tailed Tits form monogamous pairs and begin nest-building in early spring. They construct elaborate, elastic nests using moss, lichen, and spider silk, camouflaged on the outside with lichen and lined with up to 2,000 feathers.

Females typically lay 8-12 small, white eggs with fine red speckles, barely larger than a peanut. Only females usually incubate the eggs for about 13-15 days.

Nestlings fledge after 14-18 days but remain dependent on their parents for several weeks. Uniquely, failed breeders often help relatives raise their young, increasing overall breeding success.

The Long-tailed Tit typically lives for 2 to 3 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While currently listed as Least Concern, Long-tailed Tits are vulnerable to harsh winters and habitat loss.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse woodland habitats and encouraging wildlife-friendly gardening practices to support their populations.

Listen for their high-pitched 'si-si-si' calls to locate flocks
Look for their distinctive silhouette with a small body and long tail
Search in mixed woodland edges and gardens, especially near feeders
Observe their acrobatic movements as they forage in trees and shrubs

Main predators include sparrowhawks, domestic cats, and various corvids such as jays and magpies, which may raid nests for eggs and chicks.

Long-tailed Tits build one of the most intricate nests of any British bird, using up to 6,000 pieces of material.
They have a unique cooperative breeding system where failed breeders help relatives raise their young.
Its long, elegant tail is used to communicate with other birds and balance on branches.
Despite their tiny size, Long-tailed Tits can survive temperatures as low as -20°C by huddling together.
The Long-tailed Tit is not actually a tit but is more closely related to babblers.

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