Songar Tit

Parus songarus (Severtzov, 1873)

2013-10-17 Kungey Ala-too, Chon Ak-suu village, Issyk-kul region	© Sergey Toropov

Biology

Common resident. Inhabits the mountain spruce forests above 1500 m, on autumn-winter rare dispersal occurs in foothills. Breeds in separate pairs (which are permanent during several years) at distance 150-200 m from each other. Pairs are formed in winter. Nest is located in tree hole or stub hole (bored by both partners for at least three weeks) at height 0.6-10 m above ground, rarely in woodpecker-bored holes, natural holes or nest-boxes; nest is built from moss, bast and dry grass and is lined with plenty of hair and feathers, for one-two weeks. Clutch of 4-6 eggs is laid in mid-May to mid-June. Only female incubates clutch for 13-15 days, male brings her the food. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge at age 20-22 days old, in end June to mid-July. Broods observed up to early August. In autumn – winter Songar Tits live in small groups or in pairs.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 4. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1972. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.