Long-tailed tit ©Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

Long-tailed tit

Living up to its name, the long-tailed tit can be easily recognised by its long tail. It is a small, pretty, pink, black and white bird that can be seen in woodlands, gardens and parks.

Scientific name

Aegithalos caudatus

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Length: 14cm
Wingspan: 18cm
Weight: 9g
Average lifespan: 2 years

Common. Classified in the UK as Green under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5: the Red List for Birds (2021).

Habitats

About

The long-tailed tit is a tiny bird of hedgerows, woodland, parks and gardens. It builds a domed nest out of moss in a bush or the fork of a tree, and camouflages it with cobwebs and lichen. It lines the nest with as many as 1,500 feathers to make it soft for the eight to twelve eggs it lays. Long-tailed tits are active feeders, hunting out insects and spiders among the smaller branches and leaves of trees in woodlands. But they are also well-adapted to gardens and towns and will visit birdtables and feeders. In winter, they form flocks with other tits, roaming woodlands, parks and gardens, and commons and heaths with suitable bushes.

How to identify

The long-tailed tit does, indeed, have a long black-and-white tail that is bigger than its body. It has a black, white and pink back, a white head with a wide, black eyestripe, and a pale pink belly.

Distribution

Widespread.

In our area

Long-tailed tits are an increasingly common visitor to the suburban gardens of Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Whitchurch, particularly in areas with good connectivity of tree and shrub cover. But they could show up in flocks in any garden, particularly during the winter when they are searching for new food sources.

Did you know?

Sociable and noisy, long-tailed tits are usually spotted roaming about in flocks of 20 or more birds during the winter. At night, long-tailed tits cluster together to keep warm.