Parus caeruleus - Blue Tit
Feather characters. Barbules are from short until medium length (0.6-1.0 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and unpigmented or partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Bell-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (41-46 per mm). They all are about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are rounded and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are located at distal part of barbules and at both sides of the pennulum. Barbules have this typical structure for Passeriformes; pigmented, bell-shaped nodes combined with rounded villi.
Field characters. Size 11.5 cm. Weight 13.3 g (9.0-14.0) (Dunning, 1993). Main colours blue and yellow. Small restless tit. Crown, wings and tail blue, cheeks white, upperparts green, and underparts yellow. Black stripes around blue and white on head gives 'sharp' look. Inconspicuous black stripe on belly. Juveniles in late summer and early autumn are duller coloured, with the blue parts greener and the yellow less vivid. Outside breeding season often in flocks with other tits.
Voice. Variable. Characteristic song clear 'tsee tsee tsee trrrrrr'. Calls thin 'tsee', 'sisisi' and stronger calls resembling Great Tit.
Distribution. Abundant. Mainly resident, but some migration occurs in autumn. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Often found in gardens and parks, where it breeds in nest boxes. More natural habitats involve deciduous and mixed forests, uncommon in pine forest. Outside breeding season, often found in low bushes, hedges, etc.
Food. Mainly invertebrates, but seeds and fruits also taken, especially in winter. Feeds more on the ground than other tits, but less so than Great Tit.