Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)– Image from Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany
Key data
Size: 13 – 16 cm
Weight: 6 -10 g
Food: small insects, arthropods, and their larvae and eggs
Season: resident bird
Observation tips: Deciduous forests, mixed forests, parks
Photography tips:
Lens: 400 mm and above
Level of difficulty: easy
The Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) is a small passerine bird from the family of long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae), named after its long tail, which allows it to balance precisely while searching for food on fine branches. It prefers light forests, forest edges, and parks with dense undergrowth as breeding grounds, where it builds its egg-shaped nests from moss, plant wool, and feathers. Outside the breeding season, it often moves in small groups. Although its name includes "tit," the Long-tailed Tit is more closely related to warblers, whitethroats, swallows, and larks, and belongs to the superfamily Sylvioidea.
The Long-tailed Tit is a small bird with a total length of 13 to 16 centimeters and a round body, as well as a strikingly long tail of 6 to 10 centimeters, which allows it to precisely balance on the outer ends of fine branches. Its black beak is short and fine, measuring 6 to 7 millimeters in length. The wing length is 6 to 7 centimeters, and the weight ranges between seven and ten grams. However, the dimensions and proportions may vary depending on the subspecies.
The head markings vary depending on the subspecies and geographical distribution. The subspecies Aegithalos caudatus europaeus (pictured top left) has a dark head and is primarily found in Western and Southern Europe, while the white-headed subspecies Aegithalos caudatus caudatus (pictured top right) is found in Northern and Eastern Europe. In Central Europe, both forms can occur side by side.
The Long-tailed Tit mainly feeds on small insects, arthropods, as well as their larvae and eggs. Aphids and scale insects are also among their preferred food. The Long-tailed Tit primarily forages for prey on the outer branches of trees. It does not exhibit a specific dietary specialization, although seasonal or local conditions can lead to certain species being preferred. While plant-based foods such as buds, seeds, small berries, tree sap, lichens, or algae play a minor role, they can provide a valuable addition to the diet during winter. Long-tailed Tits are not too specialized and also accept nuts, suet, breadcrumbs, cheese, and other foods at winter feeders. The nestling food is similar to the usual diet, but larger prey such as butterfly caterpillars (oak leafrollers, gypsy moths, nun moths, etc.) are preferred.