Blue Tit
Blue Tit Facts
| Size | 4.7 inches (12 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 20 mph (32 km/h) |
| Weight | 0.4 ounces (11-12 grams) |
| Lifespan | 2 years |
| Food | Insects, spiders, seeds |
| Predators | Domestic cats, sparrowhawks, Eurasian jays |
| Distribution | Europe, Asia, North Africa, Canary islands |
| Habitat | Deciduous forests, mixed forests, parks, gardens |
| Order | Passerines |
| Suborder | Songbirds |
| Family | Paridae |
| Scientific name | Cyanistes caeruleus |
| Characteristics | Small yellow and blue songbird, very quick and skillful |
Main Characteristics
The Eurasian blue tit is a charming little songbird. It is easily recognizable by its yellow-blue plumage. On its head, it sports a blue "crown". Its back and wing feathers are also blue. The breast feathers are yellow, and its face is white. It is one of the most common songbirds in Europe. It is not just faster and more agile than the great tit, but it is also only half its size and weight.
Distribution and Habitat
Eurasian blue tits prefer deciduous and mixed forests. They particularly enjoy oak trees. However, they are also frequently seen in hedges, parks, and gardens.
Way of Life
Eurasian blue tits are diurnal. They spend a lot of time flitting between trees and shrubs, searching for tasty "snacks", especially insects and arachnids. In spring and summer, blue tits live in pairs to raise their young together. In winter, they form small flocks in search of food.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
Eurasian blue tits are about 4.7 inches (12 cm) long with a wingspan of 7 inches (18 cm). They weigh 0.4 ounces (11-12 grams).
Plumage
The blue feathers on the head of Eurasian blue tits are referred to as a "crown". The back, wings, and tail feathers are also blue. The face is white, except for a black stripe that runs over both eyes. The breast and belly feathers are yellow. Males and females look very similar, while the young birds have paler colors.
In Cities The Feathers Are Dull
The more caterpillars a Eurasian blue tit finds, the brighter and more vibrant the yellow of its feathers becomes. This is due to the pigments in their diet. Birds living in urban areas often have dull, lifeless colors, usually because they cannot find enough caterpillars.
Eurasian Blue Tit or Great Tit – What’s the Difference?
The Eurasian blue tit and great tit look very similar. However, there is a significant difference that is immediately noticeable: the blue feathers of the Eurasian blue tit are black in the great tit. Additionally, the great tit is nearly twice as large and twice as heavy. Their behaviors also differ. The Eurasian blue tit is active earlier in the morning and stays active longer in the evening.
Diet
Eurasian blue tits are omnivores. They primarily feed on insects such as caterpillars, maggots, and larvae. They also consume spiders. In the summer, these birds are often seen searching for food in trees, frequently hanging upside down from branches. In winter, they supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds that they find on the ground or in bird feeders.
Behavior
Singing
Despite their small size, Eurasian blue tits have a very loud, high-pitched voice that can be heard from a distance. They produce various sounds to attract mates or to signal an alarm when a predator is nearby. Both male and female sing.
Short Trips
Eurasian blue tits often fly only short distances and avoid large, open areas because they can be more easily preyed upon by predators there.
What Do Eurasian Blue Tits Do in Winter?
Eurasian blue tits are not migratory birds. They can be observed year-round. In autumn and winter, these birds form small groups to sleep and feed together. They sleep in tree cavities and nesting boxes.
Skills and Senses
They Hang Upside Down on Branches
Eurasian blue tits are little acrobats. To catch insects, they often hang upside down on branches.
Intelligence
They Can Travel Back in Time
Eurasian blue tits have an excellent memory. They can remember not only where they found food but also when and how. They can travel back in their memory, recall a memory, and relive it in their mind's eye.
They Are Clever Problem Solvers
In the 1920s, milk bottles were delivered right to people's doorsteps in England. At that time, the bottles were sealed only with a thin foil. People were puzzled when they noticed holes appearing in them. It turned out that some blue tits had learned to use their beaks to open the foil to get to the delicious, creamy top layer of the milk. Impressive!
They Pass on Their Knowledge
Those Eurasian blue tits that learned to open milk bottles even passed their knowledge on to their young. As a result, by around 1950, it seemed that every Eurasian blue tit knew this trick. This behavior was confirmed by the University of Oxford (England).
Life Expectancy
Eurasian blue tits typically live for about two years. However, in rare cases, they can reach up to eight years. One ringed bird in the Czech Republic defied the odds, living to an impressive age of eleven years and seven months. The record is believed to be as high as 12.3 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
Their main predators include domestic cats, sparrows, and jays. Squirrels and weasels raid their nests, stealing both eggs and chicks.
Human Impact
Pesticides and Insecticides
The diet of Eurasian blue tits consists of 80-90% pests. Unfortunately, many gardeners resort to pesticides and insecticides to protect their plants from these pests. This leads to two significant issues: first, Eurasian blue tits find less food, and second, they ingest these chemicals through their prey, which can be fatal. Therefore, it's better to use non-toxic household alternatives.
Diseases
In March 2020, Germany reported an unusually high number of sick or dead Eurasian blue tits. It was discovered that they were suffering from a bacterial pneumonia (which is harmless to humans and other animals). The likely cause was close contact with other birds, such as at bird baths or feeders. Hence, bird enthusiasts should clean these daily. If anyone finds sick or dead birds, it's best to report them to the local animal welfare association.
Importance to the Ecosystem
Gardeners adore Eurasian blue tits! They act as natural pest controllers, feeding on aphids, maggots, and moths. Additionally, these birds help spread seeds that lead to new plant growth. A single chick can consume up to 100 caterpillars a day. With 10 chicks, that totals 1,000 caterpillars!
How to Attract Blue Tits to the Garden
If you enjoy Eurasian blue tits and want to provide them with a lovely habitat, there are several ways to do so. The most important thing is: steer clear of pesticides – they can harm blue tits as well.
Food
What could be more enticing than food? To attract Eurasian blue tits, fat balls and bird feeders filled with birdseed are ideal.
Bird Bath
A bird bath filled with fresh water daily is also a favorite spot for Eurasian blue tits. They love to bathe frequently.
Nest Box
If you have a garden, consider hanging a nest box. The entrance should be 1-1.1 inches (26-28 mm) to prevent larger great tits from claiming it for themselves.
Reproduction
Mating and Breeding Season
At the end of January or the beginning of February, male Eurasian blue tits start searching for a mate, attempting to attract her with their songs. Once a pair is formed, they stay together for the breeding season. The breeding season is from April to June.
Nest Building
Starting in April, the female begins to gather moss, feathers, and other soft materials to construct her cup-shaped nest. She builds it in tree cavities, wall crevices, or nesting boxes.
Eggs
The female lays 6-12 eggs and incubates them for 12-16 days. During this period, the male provides her with food.
Chicks
In Eurasian blue tits, both parents feed the chicks. It is said that they collect up to 10,000 caterpillars for a single brood. After about three weeks, the chicks are strong enough to leave the nest.
The Blue Tit Is Related To:
- Coal Tit
- Crested Tit
- Great Tit
- Long-Tailed Tit
- Marsh Tit
- Willow Tit
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Brimstone Butterfly
- Cat
- Common Blackbird
- Common Chaffinch
- Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Great Tit
- Marten
- Nuthatch
- Peacock Butterfly
- Red Squirrel
- Robin
- Sparrow
- Sparrowhawk
- Weasel
Sources:
- „Urbanisation impacts plumage colouration in a songbird across Europe: Evidence from a correlational, experimental and meta-analytical approach“ (https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
- „Episodic-like memory in wild free-living blue tits and great tits“ (https://linkinghub.elsevier.com)
- „Long-Term Decrease in Coloration: A Consequence of Climate Change?“ (https://www.journals.uchicago.edu)
- „Larger groups of passerines are more efficient problem solvers in the wild“ (https://www.pnas.org)
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