Long-tailed Tit

Aegithalos caudatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

2013-10-18 Ananyevo, Issyk kul region	© Sergey Toropov

Biology

Common, in places rare resident, in non-breeding time makes short-distance migrations. Inhabits deciduous and mixed forests with shrub undergrowth, in river valleys or near stream often, on plains and in mountains up to 1500 m. On autumn - winter dispersing occurs in pine forests, groves, and in parks and gardens in towns. In breeding areas appears in March – April. Breeds in separate pairs, at distance 0.5-1 km one from another. Massive nest is built by both partners in tree or in bush at height 0.5-17 m above the ground; nest is built from moss, lichen and grass strips and is lined with plenty of feathers. Clutch of 10-14 eggs is laid in mid-April – May. Female incubates clutch for 11-15 days. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge at age 15-16 days old, in end May to early August. Autumn dispersal in flocks of 20-100 birds begins in late July, outside the breeding range appear mainly in September - October.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург, Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.