Things you need to know about LONG TAILED TITS!
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Long-Tailed tits are one of the favourite garden birds in the UK. In this video you will find all about them, their diet, what they sound like, where they live and many more interesting long tailed tit facts.
The long tailed tit has a perfectly suitable name, their 7 to 9cm tail does make up more than half their body length. They have a wingspan of around 18cm and are surprisingly light at just 7 to 10 grams in weight. There are several races of this species, each with varying amounts of black and white on their heads and faces, they also have a pink band along their shoulders, pied markings down their wings and very pale pink or white undersides.
Throughout most of the year their diet is almost entirely based on invertebrates. They seem to have a special taste for spiders, aphids and caterpillars but in the winter they will also feed on berries, seeds and nuts and they can sometimes be seen visiting garden bird feeders.
Long tailed tits usually start nesting from one year of age when a pair will form from early February onwards and begin the construction of a very unique dome shaped nest. This can take more than 3 weeks to build and is made out of moss and lichen woven together wit spiders webs. Because of this, the nest itself can expand and stretch as they chicks grow inside it, but just to make it even more comfortable, the parents then line it with hundreds and sometimes thousands of feathers. In fact, a Victorian ornithologist with far too much time on his hands once counted the feathers in a long tailed tits nest to find a whopping 2379 of them. Well, everyone’s got to have a hobby.
The female will lay between 6 and 14 peanut sized white eggs with brown speckles. The female incubates them alone for 14 to 18 days whilst the male brings food to her in the nest. Because of the shape of their nests I couldn’t find any footage of the chicks developing inside but after 16 to 17 days they are ready to fledge and leave the nest. The chicks continue to be fed by their parents after this point for several weeks and will often stay with their family group throughout the rest of the year and into the next nesting season, sometimes helping their parents to rear their next batch of chicks. But it is not just related birds that help each other, long tailed tit nests in the UK have less than 20% chance of success and depending when the nest fails, the parents have a couple of choices. If the nest fails early into the season the pair can build a second nest, albeit sometimes a less structurally complete one, and try to rear a second clutch of eggs but if the nest fails later in the year, they may do something quite unusual. The adult birds may go and find another long tailed tit nest and help that pair to rear their chicks. One study found that almost half of all long tailed tit nests have non parent helpers and it isn’t all one sided. Birds that help others to rear their chicks have been shown to have a higher survival rate into the following nesting season and are also more likely to be successful at rearing their own chicks the next time round.
They live on average for 2 to 3 years with the oldest known bird being recorded at 8 years and 11 months of age from being ringed.
#gardenbirds #birdwatching #britishbirds
Some of the footage and images used in this video were obtained using creative commons licences, the originals and their licence details can be found at:
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Thank you for watching this video and taking a look at the comments!
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Cheers.
Fantastic vid. We just saw our first one on the feeder (Sevenoaks, Kent). Stunning little critter. My new favourite visitor. Thanks for the education. God bless.
@@dannypembroke2372 thank you!
@@AShotOfWildlife Well . . . He came back today with FIVE friends. So Beautiful. Thanks.
Beautiful little birds. Got a colony near me, very lucky.
Must be one of the sweetest cutest fluffy little birds ever, loved that Liam thank you another lovely video 😊
I think they look like someone's painted 2 eyes and a tiny beak on an agg. Love 'em.
@@LudwigHohlwein1974 yes so Diddy like a little dwarf hamster with a beak 😊
@@angelalayton1655so squidgles
They are one of my very favorites too. ☺ I also love the goldcrest and firecrest. ☺
I love these birds
The Long-tailed tit makes the best nest in the UK for its size, it's a truly amazing nest.
Lovely video. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Thats amazing it's like they know the species must survive:)
These little sweet birds are my favourites. Tiny little faces 😍 all squeaking and hanging around in gangs. So sweet! Thank you!
I saw one on a nearby Asiatic apple tree. It was the only time I’ve ever seen it.
For the first time in my life I saw them in my garden this afternoon. And looked at RUclips to learn about them. I am based in central London. They are the cutest little birds. I am overwhelmed by them . 😊❤now my feeders are bursting with many different ones. What a magnificent Lord we are serving 🙏🥰thank you for uploading.
One of the cutest titmice! Love these birdies. Those nests look and sound very comfy, like little sleeping bags! Interesting how adults may help unrelated chicks too; that's very beneficial for their populations.
One of my favourite birds.
These birds are so cute and fun to watch their nests are incredible and they are so remarkable to help others with chicks ty for sharing i really enjoyed you're video love birds from the uk
Such a lovely little bird. I learned a lot about this bird in this vid Liam, I love how they actually help each other rear their young. With such a huge number of nest failures, it makes such good sense. Thank you for another great vid.
This will never catch on. Short, informative films with no gimmicks or obtrusive music. Thnaks Liam.
I'm happy with how it's going thus far, I hope it continues. Cheers Jim.
Thanks Liam. We've had a small flock of Long-tailed tits visiting our garden since last spring, probably because we replanted it with native species and a wildflower meadow, so there are a lot of insects and other invertebrates - I figured that if we could attract species low in the food chain, the higher up species would follow, and they have ! 😄
Anyway, the long-tailed tits seem to flock with blue tits, great tits, and coal tits, which are almost always around at the same time.
When we bought the house in 2014 the garden was basically a lawn surrounded by leylandii, and the only wildlife was a flock of sparrows. The leylandii were quickly removed and were replaced by hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, and hornbeam, plus various fruit bushes. Thankfully the sparrows have stayed and the various tits, woodpigeon, collared doves, and occasional goldfinches have come to keep them company ! 😄
Does your garden have nest boxes? They can be a huge help for cavity nesting species like tits. Only problem being tits are quite territorial so they need to be placed quite far away from each other. House sparrow boxes are also available and since house sparrows nest in loose colonies they can be placed quite close together
@@theotheseaeagle Yes, we have two nest boxes placed far apart. The sparrows don't seem to have a problem finding nesting places - we're surrounded by Victorian and Edwardian houses with gaps under the eaves and ridges.
Well done on getting rid of the leylandii, not sure if I would have planted blackthorn, a bit of a weed & inclined to spread. We love our long tailed tits which only seem to visit us in the autumn.
You have given an excellent insight into the world of this iconic bird. Thank you.
You're welcome, cheers!
This is one of my favorite birds and I hate now nature programs ignore them,so thanks for this.
Thanks bud, love your enthusiasm for nature, keep up the great work 👌
Thank you!
BEST BIRD
The thing I love about them is when one is on a feeder with not much room, the others will wait for it to move. I don't see any other birds doing this on the feeders. Makes me think they are Japanese in their habits. So peaceful.
An excellent video and very informative thank you. I am lucky enough to have a huge flock of LT Tits feeding in my garden literally 6 feet from my window so I can study and photograph them all day every day . We have had as many as 28 LT Tits feeding at one time on the feeders. I hadn't realised that they have such a short lifetime !....knowing that, I am determined more than ever that this Winter , along with all our other garden birds ,they will have plenty to eat in our garden
They come in a flock to eat from the bird feeders. Delightful! I sit at my window and watch them.
Lovely!
In my rather large garden I can get quite close up to these little chaps to see them at play.
Thank you Liam. We love your material.
Absolutely beautiful birds. I love the way they help each other out too. Hopefully, they'll only grow in numbers over the years.
Thank you for the very informative video. I have had long tailed tits visiting my garden for several years now and this year I have noticed that a pair are building a nest in a shrub. It is only half built at the moment and it will be very exciting to see the finished result and await the chicks.
I saw my first long tailed tit when a flock of about 9 visited my garden when we had a lot of snow about a decade ago. Now I see them regularly in my local nature reserve but not often in the garden. They are definitely one of my favourite birds
Brilliant Liam 😊 I get lots of these in my garden but hadn’t a clue about their life cycle Thanks for another great vid.
Thank you so much, I am glad you enjoyed it!
What a brilliant channel, as a new birder I am learning a lot from your videos, thanks for taking the time 👍
Thank you, I'm glad you are finding these videos useful.
Lovely video and so great to learn more about these wonderful birds.
Thank you!
One of my favourite birds. I can spend ages laying in a hammock in the woods watching them flitting about, feeding.
Nice one. Is this all your footage, Liam? Great stuff. Had no idea about their nests, I'll keep an eye out next spring.
I think they are possibly one of the cutest British birds. Adorable
One of my favourite birds. When they are seen looking for food, you often see a large group of them moving from tree to tree, checking all the branches for insects. Such a lovely nest, found one on the ground once.
One of my favourites. Stand still within a low line of willows in winter/spring & a flock may gather around you. They look at you quizzically before continuing their search for insects as the group gradually moves along to the next tree.
Thanks fella - really enjoy your content 👍
Thanks John!
Thank you so much 🌻
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
Good morning, fantastic My friend good video Ok congratulation thank 💯💢💯™️🤗👍🌟🌟👈
Thank you, Liam. Another fantastic, educational video.
Thank you!
Loved the vid Liam.
If only people would slow down in this hectic world I’m sure that they would be astounded at what bird life n wild life we have in our country and thanks to you n people like you are trying your best to educate people.
Well done
Lovely video. Great amount of interesting information Ja😊
Thank you very much!
one of my favourite borbs, up there with goldcrest and grey wags
Great! I haven't done either of those species YET, but if you are interested and haven't already seen it, I have done a video on pied wagtails. Cheers
Liams channel is the best bird information channel on u tube
Thanks Liam,
oh dear I should be cooking but i have become addicted to your videos so I am hopping back in every time one finishes to load the next one..I wonder when and where your other viewers watch/ listen:)
I was especially pleased to hear this one.. about the helper birds and better survival rates..We often hear about the horrible things that happen with wild animals.. this was si encouraging,
Many thanks,
Karen
Thanks Liam your videos are so good and informative, long tails are so sweet they visit a holly bush outside my window ❤
just found this Liam and thank you, absolutely brilliant! I am probably a casual ornithologist but a lover of these amazing birds. I encourage them thru the seasons in my garden and this will make me better at it. My greatest joys outwith the garden have been, a Hen Harrier at Forsinand, a golden Eagle at Altnaharra, Ravens in Golspie, a peregrine at Bonar bridge and dare I say Ospreys and Red Kites in the Areas I am sure you have recognised. still not (knowingly) seen Crossbills. that is my quest😇 thanks for this. I am now an avid follower. cheers
Hi Craig. That's a strong list, I haven't yet seen a hen harrier but I think this'll be my year! Crossbill are also on my list, but I'll probably need to head north for those. I'm glad you found the channel amd hope you'll stick around. Cheers, Liam.
Lovely vlog for a charming little bird! Thankyou ❤ XXX
In mid November, their unmistakable call made me look up and I saw clouds of 50 - 100 swoop past the garden, followed by a few stragglers. Incredible sight.
Usually we just have a rare, brief visit of 6 - 12, for the sunflower seeds.
North Norfolk, UK.
What a lovely bird and video. Really enjoyed this one.
What an absolute delight Liam! Thank you for sharing! 😊
Thanks!
That was so interesting ,I learnt a lot from that video .Thank you .😊
You're welcome, thanks for watching!
Probably my favourite native bird. I live in the woods and at a couple of times of the year I get to watch/hear the local flock pass by twice a day.
I found two nests this year, but both got raided. First time I've found an active nest. It was a pleasure to watch them build their nest, including taking turns between the birds and myself being around that part of the garden throughout the day. Got some cracking close-up footage of the pair in my garden building their nest.
You mentioned a couple of things which correlate with my observations; I observed the pair building the nest not in my garden with a third participant on at least one occasion, and more recently I've observed the mixed flocks you mentioned. Both things which I had assumed at the time may well be coincidental, though it sounds like I was actually seeing what I saw!
My favourite bird! 💜💛💚
They sure look adorable and wonderful to hear how they help others out parenting. They are reportedly widespread also here in Ireland, but I have yet to see any here in the north west of Ireland. We usually get Coal, Great and Blue Tits on our bird feeders.
Hi Liam.
Long-Tailed Tits, have to be in my top ten favourite little birds. they are so amazing little characters. i really enjoyed this video, some super information.
I saw yesterday, out my window - a pair of rose ringed parakeets, first time in my little patch. i know they made it to our local bird reserve 3 miles down the road, but first time in my street!
Have yourself a great weekend. catch you soon :)
Hi Liam, that was one of the best videoed we’ve ever seen. We walk and bird most weekends and love all wildlife, but have a huge soft spot for these endearing, loyal and social little birds. Geoff & Sarah 👍
I really love being informed about tits!!
Haha, thanks!
Don’t know they are natives or visiters, but I see them a lot these days at a nearby park. Those lovely little birds never fails to lighten up my day - from south korea
Amazing video. Brilliant videography, really well edited and very interesting. Never hit subscribe so fast !
In my experience FAT BALLS in the Winter are a favoured food, either morning and especially dusk just as the light draws in - either more severe need for fat for the night being smaller or less competition from other birds at this time or a dependable source of food to fuel up on before the long night for these little birds. They also roost communally to exchange and conserve body-warmth at night.
Loved that ....very informative & a lovely bird ..thanks...
Another great video! Cheers Liam
Cheers!
Good morning, Liam. I've got a group of long-tailed tits that visit my garden. I've planted a load of wild flowers and feed the birds, squirrels and hedgehogs. I've recently had a juvenile sparrowhawk visit too, and see it quite regularly. Lovely video, thank you.
Lovely video. Here in Northern Europe we have an entirely white headed form ( called caudatus. ) I may be biased, but I think it's the cutest bird in Europe.
I forgot to say that sometimes when a fluffed up 'caudatus' is sitting on a branch facing the observer, it presents as a white snowball with eyes.
Incredibly interesting thank you ❤
Thank you!
I saw a pair in my garden the last few mornings. Very pretty. 🌒🌼
i love it when i hear the tssst tssst of a long tailed tit and then you see them moving across a tree in a small flock...i have blue tits nesting in my box every year and they always start looking inside around the end of january...one goes in then seems to invite the other in to take a look then they go away for a while then start building their nest...once finished they disappear for a while and i think like you that is to deter any crows or magpies that may have been watching then they come back and lay eggs.
Lovely.
I remember seeing these when I was a kid.. My mum would put feeders on the washing line in Winter. I recall three things; thier sweet little faces, the pink bits and how good they were at flying.. This possibly accounts for their ability to move nesting sites, and the lack of need for migration. Most enjoyable and entertaining as ever! Thanks. 🌟👍
I filmed one of the mixed flocks you mentioned just today - thank you for this informative video.
Cheers!
Brilliant 👍🇬🇧
Thank you.
@@AShotOfWildlife your welcome.🇬🇧
Lovely little birds , I have some in my garden but they disappear for months then return, just 3 of them . They are friendly and come close and make their cute noises
Excellent 👍
Thank you!
This may have been my favourite video of yours. Thank you
Never seen one in my garden in Cheltenham.
Thanks Liam. Good stuff clearly delivered.
Lots of super information and great footage as always. Very interesting to learn more about them. Thank you!!
I always learn something new from you're great informative videos Liam, thanks so much 🙏
Thanks Liam. They're so cute 💕
Cheers!
There are quite a lot of these cheeky little birds at the local park, which I frequent. I can spend hours just sitting on a bench, watching them clamber all over the low trees looking for invertebrates.
Delightful little creatures ❤️
They are frequently coming to my feeders these days. 😊
Nice one Liam.
Thanks! A Shot🐦
Thank you
What you didn't mention is that they'll often feed in tribes. I'll often hear a tribe approaching and watch them inspect whole trees for food. I call them 'bandits' because of their eye masks, or 'lollipops' for obvious reasons.
Love to watch these swarming all over the trees that line the river. Branches are only 20 feet away from my first floor windows. Now I know what they are eating. Thanks.
Lovely video thank you xx
Great video as always. My favourite of the little birds :)
I love these birds. I always make sure I have plenty of food for them on my feeders on my allotment on North Yorkshire coast. They do seem to come and go though dont always see them for a while them they come back, usually quite a few of them at a time
That's exactly what they do at this time of year, rove from place to place often in large flocks with other birds. I'm glad you found this video.
Now that's a really cool bird
Lovely video. We live near farmland and get them on the garden feeder. Thank you.
Hi Liam brilliant video thank you love all your videos very much and very interesting keep up with your brilliant work and videos looking forward to your next one Bernard
lmao this month a small mob of 3 or 4 have started coming to my feeders. the way they fly in from nowhere, eat their fill and then leave again makes me think they think they're doing some kind of heist. it's been nice seeing some new feathery faces around here :)
Beautiful, thank you!
Thanks!
Thank you so very much for all the information I love all Birds I'm in mullion Cornwall I feed the birds all year round I have counted 8 feeding on the seeds and Fat bells I put out I'm lucky to have them come up very close to me Beautiful little birds
I have subscribed
Yvonne mullion Cornwall England
Great vid, thanks! Love these little birds but never actually seen one in person until today when one landed right next to me about three foot away (head height) and stayed there for around a minute :)
Estos pequeños son tan preciosos! adoro los Mitos, por aquí son tan blancos pero igual de bellos! preciosas tomas! saludo cordiales m carmen
A great relief to watch a birdie, after binge watching serial killer videos.
Really informative,brilliant
Thank you!
Thanks
Cheers!
Very informative Dear... Thanks.