Unrelated to the UK's other tits, the long-tailed tit is easily recognisable with its distinctive colouring, a tail that is bigger than its body, and undulating flight. Gregarious and noisy residents, long-tailed tits are most usually noticed in small, excitable flocks of about 20 birds. Like most tits, they rove the woods and hedgerows, but are also seen on heaths and commons with suitable bushes.
Key ID Features:
Very small, round body and head with unmistakeably long, thin tail.
Most often seen in small family flocks feeding acrobatically, clinging upside down to thin twigs with repetitive trisyllabic song.
Whitish breast sits above pinkish-buff belly and dark legs.
It has a white head with a dark, yellow ringed eye over which sits a black band (absent in the European continental form), joining upperparts which are black with pinkish-brown wing panels.
Primary feathers and long thin tail are black with white edges.
Belly and flanks are pinkish-buff.
Overview
Scientific name: Aegithalos caudatus.
Family: Long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae)
Where to see them:
Found across the UK except for the far north and west of Scotland. They can be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland, parkland and gardens. In winter they form flocks with other tit species.
Seen in UK:
All year round.
What they eat
Insects, occasionally seeds in autumn and winter.
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Photographer: Tim Tapley
