Bird - great tit: description with photos, pictures and videos, where it lives and winters, what a great tit looks like. Tit photo and description of the bird for children

I think everyone knows what the Great Tit or Bolshak looks like, the Latin name is Parus major. Along with the dove, sparrow, jackdaw and crow, tits are the most common feathered inhabitants of cities and other populated areas. This is the largest bird of the tit family, it belongs to the order Passeriformes, the genus Tit and forms a separate species.

Habitats of the Great Tit

This is a sedentary bird; only in severe frosts, when there is an acute lack of food, can it change its habitat. Typically, migration involves moving closer to human habitation. Widely distributed throughout Europe with the exception of the far north and Iceland, found in North Africa and the Middle East. IN South-East Asia lives in Japan and throughout Indochina up to the island of Java and the island of Borneo. You will not find the great tit in the north of Siberia, among continuous coniferous forests and in the highlands. The great tit is not afraid of people, actively inhabits city squares and parks, happily flies to feeders and even pecks food from a human hand.

Appearance of Great Tit

This is the largest bird of all tits found in Russia. A little larger and much larger or Gaichki. Its length is from 13 to 17 centimeters, its weight is about 20 grams, its wingspan is 22–26 centimeters, and its tail is long. In other words, the Great Tit is the size of a sparrow, but it is impossible to confuse them due to the bright plumage of tits.

The Great Tit has a bright yellow or lemon belly with a black longitudinal stripe in the middle called a tie. The tie on the abdomen in males widens towards the bottom, and in females it narrows. This is one of the few differences between males and females of the Great Tit; in addition, the females have a more faded color. On the head there is a blue-black cap with a metallic tint, and on the back of the head there is a yellowish-white spot. The cheeks are white, there is a black ring around the neck. The throat and chest are black with a slight bluish tint. The back is yellowish-green, fading to bluish-gray on the loin and rump, with a faint olive tint on the shoulders. The wings and tail are bluish; a thin white stripe can be seen on the wings. The tail is long.

Songs of the Great Tit

Great tits are songbirds. Males that conquer a mate sing more variedly than females and do this almost all year, except for the winter months. There are about 40 different sounds made by tits. Particularly prominent are the sonorous ones: “qi-qi-qi-pi”, “in-chi-in-chi”, the cry - “pin-pin-chrrrrzh”. In spring the song is more monotonous: “zin-zi-ver”, “zin-zin”. Great tits sing especially intensely during the breeding season: from March to the second half of May and from the second half of June to the end of July. Autumn singing begins in August, intensifies in mid-September and stops in the first ten days of October. In addition to the actual singing, tits perform the so-called sub-song - a melodic quiet chirping, “purring”, sounding most often in February or March.

Lifestyle

The great tit prefers deciduous and mixed forests. Lives on open areas along rivers and along the banks of lakes, on the edges and in woodlands. In Siberia it does not settle further than 10-15 kilometers from human habitation. It prefers to feed on tree branches and bushes and is reluctant to descend to the ground. In winter, tits move en masse closer to humans.

In cities, parks, squares and gardens are perfect for her. The destruction by humans of large tracts of forest and the increase in open forests has led to an increase in the number of these birds.

Typically, Great Tits live in flocks, breaking up into pairs only for the period of nesting and breeding. These are, as a rule, monogamous birds; cases of polygamy are rare. Pairs last for several years

The nesting period of the Great Tit depends on the area where it lives. In the south of Russia, males begin their courtship at the end of February, and in the center of the country about two weeks later. The breeding season lasts until the end of September. During the period of pair formation and nesting, males become aggressive towards competitors.

Great tits build their nests in tree hollows at a height of 2-5 meters from the ground. They can also invade other people's nests if there is not enough space in the trees; they use any shelter, titmice, birdhouses, mouse holes and cracks in rocks. Near human habitation, the great tit can build nests in the most unexpected places. The nests of these birds were found in drainpipes, in pillars street lighting, in hollow metal pipes fences, in mailboxes, behind the skins of buildings and even in the barrel of a gun, the main thing is that closed space. Cases when Great Tits equip open nests are extremely rare.

The construction of the nest is carried out by females; males do not participate in the process. The size of the nest depends on the place where it was built, but its internal structure is always the same. Inside the recess, the female makes a small tray, 5-6 cm in circumference. Its depth can be 4-5 cm. The tray is lined with small twigs, leaves, moss, cobwebs, fluff and animal hair.

Reproduction of the Great Tit

Great tits usually lay two clutches: at the end of April and in mid-summer. In the first clutch there are up to 15 white, slightly shiny eggs, but more often 8 - 12. The entire surface of the eggs is covered with reddish-brown spots and specks, forming a corolla on the blunt side. The second clutch is usually 2 fewer eggs. The tit incubates eggs for 12-14 days. During this time, the male provides food for the female. The tit flies from the nest only when danger approaches. For the first two or three days, the hatched chicks are covered with grayish down, so the female does not leave the nest, warming them with her warmth. The male at this time acts as the breadwinner. When the chicks begin to become feathered, the pair feeds the offspring, bringing an average of 6-7 g of food per chick per day to the nest.

The chicks fly from the nest approximately on the 22nd day after birth. After leaving, they stay in a flock near the nest, and their parents continue to feed them for one or two weeks. If the female begins a second clutch, the first brood is led by the male.

In summer, Great Tits feed mainly on insects; midges, flies, mosquitoes, spiders, caterpillars, and crickets are their food. The chicks are fed the most high-calorie insects, namely caterpillars. With the coming winter cold, tits switch to plant foods. They feed mainly on seeds and cereal crops. These birds do not store for the winter and if they find food hidden by other bird species, they eat it with pleasure. Tits do not disdain carrion.

The great tit has perfectly adapted to the landscape created by man. This nimble bird can often be seen near buildings, in gardens and city parks, and people everywhere welcome it as faithful ally in the fight against insect pests.
Habitat. Lives in Europe, Asia and North Africa.

Habitat.
The great tit lives in Europe, Asia and northern Africa. The southern border of its range runs through North Africa, Israel, Iran and Ceylon, and in the north it reaches the subpolar tundra. This bird can be found in the vast expanses of Eurasia from the shores of the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. Some tits live sedentary lives, and birds nesting in the north migrate to areas with a milder climate for the winter.

Species: Great tit – Parus major.
Family: Tit.
Order: Passerines.
Class: Birds.
Subphylum: Vertebrates.

Did you know?
The great tit is the largest of all European tits.
During the day, the body temperature of the tit is 42 °C, and at night it drops to 39 °C. The heart of this bird beats at a frequency of 500 beats per minute, and with strong excitement, the contraction frequency increases to 1000 beats per minute.
A tit eats more food per day than it weighs. A pair of tits feeding nine chicks delivers approximately 1,800 insects and larvae to their offspring every day. During their entire stay in the nest, the chicks eat about 15,000 insects and caterpillars.
In a 10-hectare area, great tits can kill 150,000 insects and caterpillars.
Great tits are surprisingly brave, agile and smart. In some places they have become so accustomed to the presence of people that they take food directly from people’s hands.
The sharp beak serves the tit as a multi-purpose tool. The bird hollows them out, cracks the hard shells of nuts and seeds, and picks out the larvae from under the bark. As it wears out, the beak continually grows back.

Security.
In many countries, the great tit, like its other relatives, is protected, although its population is very large and the bird is not in danger of extinction. Having long ago appreciated the enormous merits of these little birds in the fight against dangerous pests crops and forests, people feed them in the winter, and in the spring they hang nesting boxes, which quickly find owners. Tits living in cities often crash into transparent shop windows or glazed walls of high-rise buildings, so it is recommended to stick images of birds of prey on such surfaces, which scare away all the small birds from dangerous obstacles.

Lifestyle.
During the nesting season the male big tit occupies the home area and defends its borders from other relatives, but in autumn and winter these sociable birds gather in flocks, often teaming up with other species of tits. Living in a flock helps them spot danger in time and find food. The composition of such a flock is constantly changing: some birds fly away, others join the group. Tits are very vocal and communicate with each other using a rich set of whistles and trills. At the end of winter, tit flocks begin to disintegrate. Males claim their rights to certain areas, and a little later the females also set off on a journey, trying to find a partner. The diet of tits is very diverse: in spring and summer they feed on all kinds of insects and their larvae, and in winter on larvae and spiders hidden under the bark. With no less appetite they eat plant seeds, beech and hazelnuts, seeds of ash, maple, euonymus, yew and hawthorn. In the fall, tits often feast on the pulp and seeds of overripe fruits, and in the snowy winter they flock to feeders in noisy flocks. In search of prey, these restless birds quickly run along the branches, often even upside down. Their natural enemies include small feathered predators, weasels, ferrets and martens, and squirrels and crows often destroy their nests.

Reproduction.
In the spring, the first thing a male tit occupies is his home range and immediately notifies rivals and neighbors about this with ringing trills, which at the same time attract females. Having noticed a possible partner, the male puffs up his shirtfront for greater importance and begins to nervously flutter around the chosen one. If the female likes the gentleman, she squats on a branch, opening her wings and beak, and demands a treat, and the male tries to feed her (perhaps in this way the female checks whether she can future spouse feed the chicks). Then the male shows his girlfriend the place he has chosen for the nest, which can be a tree hollow or a titmouse, and if the female likes it, the couple begins to build a nest from thin twigs lined with dry blades of grass, moss, feathers and scraps of wool. In April, the female lays 6-12 white eggs with reddish speckles and incubates the clutch for 10-14 days, feeding on the male’s offerings. The chicks hatch blind and naked. After 2-3 weeks they fly out of the nest, but their parents feed them for about another week. As a rule, tits have one brood per year. Sometimes the pair manages to make another brood, and then the older chicks are fed by one male. In winter, juveniles join flocks of tits. Great tits reach sexual maturity at 10 months of age and hatch their offspring the following spring.

Great tit - Parus major.
Length: 14 cm.
Wingspan: 22-25 cm.
Weight: 15-20 g.
Number of eggs in a clutch: 6-12.
Incubation period: 10-14 days.
Sexual maturity: 10 months.
Food: insects, fruits, seeds.
Life expectancy: up to 15 years.

Structure.
Beak. The beak is short, cone-shaped.
Head. The upper side of the head is covered with a cap of black shiny feathers.
Body. The physique is quite dense.
Cheeks. Cheeks are white.
Mirror. There are white stripes on the wings, the so-called. mirrors.
Plumage. The dorsal side is yellowish-green, the abdomen is bright yellow. The wings, tail and tailbone are bluish-gray.
Tie. A wide black stripe, resembling a tie, stretches along the chest and abdomen.
Fingers. Four short fingers are equipped with sharp and tenacious claws.
Legs. Thin legs are devoid of feathers.

Related species.
The tit family unites about 65 species of birds inhabiting Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. All of them are small birds leading a sedentary lifestyle, and only species that nest far in the north migrate to warmer climes for the winter. These birds live mainly in forests, although many species have successfully adapted to life in the city. The main food of tits is insects and seeds.

The tit family includes approximately 65 species small birds, whose body length is 100–180 mm, and their weight is measured from 7 grams to 20–25. In Europe, the tit is one of the large birds that has big body and a long tail, and the wingspan reaches 30 centimeters. This interesting bird lives in many places on the planet.

Appearance

The beak of these birds is short, looks like a cone, slightly rounded at the top and flattened at the sides. The plumage of tits is very beautiful and bright. This bird stands out among all other birds with its yellow belly with a small “tie” on it. A “tie” is a black stripe that stretches from the chest to the tail. The head is decorated with a black cap with an unusual, metallic blue sheen. The cheeks are colored White color, approximately the same white-yellow spot is located on the back of the bird’s head. Pleasant ebb blue color The throat and chest are colored, although they are black. The back is green-yellow or gray-blue, with a predominant olive tint.

The variety of shades and colors makes the tit unusually beautiful and especially stands out in winter, against the white background of snow cover.

The small nostrils are covered with inconspicuous bristly feathers. The paws are quite strong, with strong toes and sharp, strongly curved claws. This paw structure helps the tit stay on branches even in strong winds. The wings are rather short and rounded at the end. The tail consists of 12 tails, smooth, sometimes with a small cutout.

Differences between tits in pairs

Male and female tits have the same color; they differ only in that the older the bird gets, the brighter its plumage. Birds change feathers once a year. For nesting, birds choose large empty hollows that previously served as a home for woodpeckers; simple holes in trees are also suitable for them. When choosing a place for their home, tits will prefer to live where lesser spotted woodpeckers previously lived. Some species, such as the plume tit and tufted tit, can hollow out holes for themselves.

For their nests tits collect building materials:

• various types of moss;
• animal fur;
• The presence of feathers is no exception.

They use all this in their bedding. Both the male and female collect materials for the nest, but each of them has their own task. Only males collect mosses and lichens, while females collect more lightweight material(wool, feathers).

Tit food

Tits choose insects for their diet; they also like to eat food plant origin, seeds from spruce and pine cones are especially favorite for them. Some species of tits prefer to chisel the bark of trees and extract various larvae and insects from it; from the outside it may look like this: it's like a woodpecker has changed its plumage and continues to do his usual business.

Life of tits

Tits are unpretentious birds and can be found at any time of the year. They live in nests and create their clutches there. The number of eggs in a nest can be either 3–5 or much more: 14–16. All tit eggs are white with small reddish-brown spots. They start nesting early, this helps them make their homes very warm, which saves these birds on cold, frosty days in winter. When the tit chicks hatch, the female is very close to them. for a long time and so much heat has a beneficial effect on the growth of chicks. When autumn comes, tits gather in large flocks; they do not always consist only of different types tits, sometimes there are nuthatches, pikas and woodpeckers.

Why tit?

Many people mistakenly believe that the birds were called tits because of the color of the same name, although it is practically not present in their color, only small shades. Himself of blue color not at all in plumage. So what then lies the secret of the name of this bird species? To answer this question, just listen to how the tits sing. These birds whistle melodiously and loudly, their whistle sounds something like this: “siiii-siiii,” which is why they got their name. And then they began to be divided into varieties. Now there are a decent number of subspecies of this bird genus:

• long-tailed;
• crested;
• Taiwanese;
• blue tit;
• whiskered titmouse;
• ladle;
• nut (puffy);
• great tit (the photo of which confirms the beauty of this species).

These are not all subspecies of this interesting bird. Tits are quite curious and very clever birds. They can do things that not every bird can do. Having caught its claws on any surface, the titmouse may begin to somersault. If the bird does not yet have a nest and has to sleep on tree branches, then it can easily cope with this; while sleeping, the titmouse becomes a small gray ball. This feature helps to withstand any cold weather.

All species of these birds are united by the fact that they differ from other birds. Every day, on the street, you can observe how cleverly they live. Each species of titmouse, of course, has its own habits, its own character, but they all delight the eye with their beauty and pleasant melodic singing.

What do tits eat in wildlife, and what can I feed them with?

tits- Birds with a yellow belly eat a lot of things, they are omnivorous birds. The basis of their diet consists of various insects and their larvae, and is supplemented by a variety of foods of animal and plant origin. Tits search for food mainly in the lower tier of tree crowns, as well as in bushes and undergrowth. Sometimes they pick up fallen tree fruits from the ground and peck grass seeds.

Do tits eat millet or lard? Now we will tell you in detail. And let’s dispel some myths about their nutrition.The feeding habits of tits directly depend on the time of year and region of residence.

Spring-summer diet of tits

All summer, the tit catches various small invertebrates, “eating” them with a small amount of seeds and grains, choosing among them the richest in oils and proteins.

In the warm months, these birds destroy huge numbers of:

• Crawling and flying insects (including forest pests) - weevils, forest bugs and cockroaches, aphids, mosquitoes, midges, flies, grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, earwigs, as well as ants, bees and wasps, deftly removing their sting before swallowing .
• Arthropods: millipedes, mites, spiders.
• Worms and other small invertebrates.

Tits eat especially many insects and their larvae during the breeding season. And they feed the chicks mainly with small (up to 1 cm long) butterfly caterpillars.

As a supplement, birds peck the seeds of birch, linden, elderberry, maple, lilac, beech, horse sorrel, burdock, pickleberry, as well as rowan berries, serviceberry, blueberry and the fruits of other plants. If they find nuts or other edible seeds with a hard shell, they crush them with their beak, hold them with their paw or place them in a crevice of a tree, and feast on them with pleasure.

Titmouse nutrition from late autumn to early spring

In autumn, the percentage of plant foods in the diet of tits begins to increase. Often at this time they visit the fields, picking up the grain of oats, rye, wheat and corn remaining after the harvest.

Although too severe winters can force tits to fly towards the south for a considerable distance, in the strict sense of the word they are not migratory. Therefore, they have to adapt to all the changes that the changing seasons of the year bring into their lives.

In winter, birds carefully examine the bark of trees, looking for sleeping insects and their larvae., and also willingly eat berries, seeds of pine, spruce, beech, cedar, and hazel remaining on the branches of bushes and trees.

At this time of year, small species of bats that have fallen into suspended animation can also become their victims. However, in early spring, When the bats still lethargic, tits also often attack them. They do not disdain carrion.

Some species of tits, such as blue tits and tits, stock up for the winter. The most common species of tit in Russia, the great tit (or big tit), does not make such reserves, but willingly feasts on strangers.

How do tits living near humans diversify their diet?

Tits living near populated areas constantly fly to human habitation in search of food, and always find it. In gardens and orchards they catch a large number of insects, but can peck fruits and berries (for example, apples and strawberries), and in the fields they happily eat grain. Tits especially love sunflower and hemp seeds - for them these are the most delicious, fatty and aromatic options for plant foods that can only be obtained.

Tits often visit farms- they catch flies, steal food that people give to livestock, and also happily drink milk and cream, peck cottage cheese, butter and sour cream, if you are lucky enough to sneak up on them. There have been cases where birds “hunted” dairy products right in stores and markets, deftly opening packages with their beaks and paws. Tits love to “hunt” in shopping arcades, where lard and meat (fresh and frozen) are located, and on occasion they will not refuse fish.

Diet for the domestic tit

A tit living at home should be fed as varied as possible, bringing its diet as close to natural as possible. If, for example, a bird for some reason does not receive enough animal protein for a long time, it begins to have problems with plumage, skin and metabolism, which later lead to serious health problems. And from an overabundance of animal food, the liver is the first to suffer.

From what can be found in regular stores and cook at home, suitable:

• boiled eggs;
• unsalted lard and lean boiled meat - beef, chicken breast;
• grated carrots and apples;
• various cereals (oats, millet, buckwheat work, crushed corn),
• sunflower and pumpkin seeds, unroasted;
• dairy products - butter, cream, cottage cheese.

Lard should be given just a little bit (unsalted lard), since the tit living in warm conditions does not need a lot of it. Boiled eggs are given mixed with grated vegetables; in their pure form they are too high in calories for the bird and harmful to its liver.

Instead of insects, you can breed mealworms (mealworms). Its larvae are very high in calories; birds need to be given them little by little. Adult insects can only be fed by separating the jaws first (otherwise the beetle can damage the bird's esophagus).

From what is sold in pet stores, food for insectivorous birds, grain mixtures for canaries, as well as gammarus, daphnia and bloodworms are suitable - they can replace insects. You can also buy millet, canary, flax and hemp seeds. It should be used as a supplement mineral supplements For small species birds.

What and how to feed tits in winter

During the cold season, tits regularly visit the feeders. Since in winter birds spend a lot of energy maintaining their body temperature, it is most useful to offer them the most high-calorie food - sunflower and pumpkin seeds, lard, butter, cottage cheese and cream. Under no circumstances should seeds and lard be salted; everything should be given raw.

In the fall, it is also useful for tits to prepare zucchini and watermelon seeds and dry rowan berries, and in winter, breed mealworm larvae at home. At the pet store you can buy food for insectivorous birds, flax and hemp seeds, and dried gammarus.

Tits will not refuse a mash of grated carrots and boiled eggs, nuts, and cereal porridge (cook without salt). They are reluctant to eat uncooked grains in winter, because digesting solid food requires more energy.

It must be remembered that on particularly frosty days, all soft and boiled food freezes quickly. Therefore, if the birds are not accustomed to appearing at the feeder at a strictly defined time (or you do not have the opportunity to feed the birds according to a schedule), it is better to sculpt small lumps of grated lard and/or fat and seeds for them, hanging them in a net on trees - this is a treat for them They can eat it anyway.

Here's a funny video of a poor titmouse rushing about, feeding her chicks, which are already larger than herself. They have learned to fly and are sitting and tearing their throats so that they can put their beak in their mouth)))

Video "An adult tit feeds its large chicks"

Who is not familiar with such an interesting and beautiful bird, How tit? Probably, such birds simply do not exist among people because this is exactly the kind of bird that is everywhere.

Tits in the sky They are among the first to notify us that winter is receding and spring is coming to replace it. The original sounds, which are especially audible at this time, last a long time and are annoying.

They are not much different from the sounds of an anvil. Not everyone knows what this peculiar singing means. It turns out that it is the male who bursts into song in the hope of meeting his betrothed.

Many people are accustomed to having these birds constantly with them and in front of their eyes. Almost no one experiences this anymore big tits interest, but in vain. In fact, this is a rather original and interesting bird.

These birds with white cheeks, a yellow breast with a black stripe divided in the middle, appear in the vicinity of cities and villages with the arrival of the first autumn frosts. They never lead a reclusive life.

They need to be everywhere and know everything. This very curious creature scurries around everywhere, screams between the trees. In their behavior, titmouses resemble children. They are very attentive.

Their eyes and ears catch literally everything. Their sonorous voice can be heard from afar. They feel in advance what the winter will be like. The more tits arrive in the fall, the stronger the cold you should expect.

Great tit so called because it is one of the largest birds in Europe. The length of her body does not exceed 180 mm. And the bird weighs about 25 g. The birds have a strong, although inconspicuous, cone-shaped beak.

Her plumage is even tit photo unrealistically colorful and beautiful. The abdomen is colored yellow, and in the middle he has a black tie. The head also has an unusually beautiful plumage black colors with a blue tint.

The tit's cheeks are white. The back of the head is decorated with a yellow-white spot. The color of the back is dominated by olive, green, gray, and blue. Thanks to such a bright and rich color scheme The titmouse stands out very much in the white winter landscape.

On small, barely noticeable nostrils, bristle-like feathers are observed. Birds' feet are small. But it is only at first glance that they seem fragile and weak. They have fairly strong fingers and sharp, curved claws.

With the help of its legs, a tit can easily stay on a tree even with strong gusts of wind. The tit's wings are short and rounded at the ends. It is interesting to know that as tits age, their plumage becomes even much brighter. There are no significant differences between males and females.

Many people often wonder - migrant tit or not? And despite the fact that she is most often next to us, not everyone knows the correct answer.

In fact, the tit leads a sedentary lifestyle. Only need, the onset of severe cold and hunger force this bird to change its place of residence. This happens only for the purpose of self-preservation.

Great tit

Already in February, as soon as the first harbingers of spring begin to be felt, titmouses notify us with their in a great mood. Titmouse singing, If you compare it with something, it most closely resembles the sound of bells.

It is gentle, long-lasting and joyful because another brutal winter is behind us. With the arrival of warmer weather, the songs of the tits subside somewhat and are lost in the multitude of all other summer sounds.

Character and lifestyle

It is very difficult for this naughty girl to sit in one place. She is in constant motion. Tits are unpretentious creatures. This is a flock of birds that does not know what loneliness is.

They are not lacking in dexterity and curiosity. They are able to do what their brothers absolutely cannot. For example, their well-known somersaults on some surface. This trick is achieved by a tit with the help of its strong and tenacious legs.

These same paws help her survive if her nest is far away. The tit simply attaches itself to the branch with its claws and falls asleep. At such moments she resembles a small fluffy ball. This ability saves the bird from severe cold.

Each species tits only those characteristic of them are observed peculiarities. But they are all united by beautiful plumage, mischievous behavior and exciting singing. It’s a pity that in difficult weather conditions, not all birds manage to survive until spring and are the first to notify us about it. Some of them cannot withstand severe frosts.

Tits are real orderlies of nature. They destroy harmful insects and thus save green spaces. For example, one family of tits clears more than 40 trees of pests in order to feed their offspring.

The tit is not always good-natured and cheerful. During the breeding season, they become evil, soulless and cruel creatures when it comes to their offspring. They defend their territories with zeal and fearlessness.

Molting in birds occurs once a year. In order to build a nest, tits find holes in trees or abandoned hollows of other birds or animals. Most often they settle in abandoned woodpecker dwellings. Not all, but there are some tit species who are not lazy and with their labors hollow out a hole for the nest.

The couple works together to insulate their home. Only their responsibilities are slightly divided. Usually the female brings light feathers or wool to the new nest, and the male brings heavier ones. construction material– moss or lichen.

Nutrition

The main diet of tits are insects. Due to their unpretentiousness, they do not refuse plant foods. Favorite delicacy – spruce and Pine cones.

There are species of tits that enjoy chiseling the bark of a tree and pulling out larvae and others from under it. Often, looking at such a picture, you might think that this is a woodpecker that has changed its image.

They love birds, bugs, caterpillars, and eggs. Those who live near people do not refuse cottage cheese, bread crumbs, cereals, meat pieces, lard, berries and fruits. They don't stock food. But with great pleasure they can rob their brothers.

Muscovites, puffweeds, and nuthatches are often attacked by them. IN winter time During the year, tits stay longer in places where there is enough food. They can visit the feeder throughout the winter and never fly far from it.

Tit chick

Why is it so useful to create bird feeders in winter? This saves many tits, which in turn save green spaces. There are suggestions that in one day an adult tit eats as many insects as it weighs.

Reproduction and lifespan

In flocks of birds, pairs of tits form, which, after building a nest, begin to think about offspring. During this period, they turn from merry fellows into serious and aggressive birds.

Mother tit is waiting for the chicks to appear

They now need to take care not only of themselves, but also of their future offspring. Typically there are about 15 spotted eggs in a clutch. The eggs of tits are also easy to distinguish from the eggs of others. They are sprinkled with red dots, which form a kind of ring at the blunt end of the egg.

Egg laying occurs twice a year. The first time occurs at the end of April, the second is closer to mid-summer. It takes 13 days to hatch the eggs. Only the female deals with this issue. Her partner at this time makes sure that she does not go hungry.

After the birth of completely helpless chicks, the female does not leave the nest for another couple of days, warming her babies. All this time, the male selflessly takes care of his family, brings them food and protects them from enemies.

The chicks need 16 days to fully fledge, take wing and prepare for independent life. And by 10 months the chicks are ready to reproduce on their own. Tits live for about 15 years.