Tail tit: nest, pictures & Co.

Have you seen a small, black and white shuttlecock in your garden? It could be the long-tailed tit. How you can identify the tailed tit, further information and pictures can be found in our species portrait.

The tail tits (Aegithalos caudatus) are arguably some of the cutest songbirds of all time. The small, black and white birds would be just 5 centimeters tall without their long tails and look like little shuttlecocks scurrying through the branches of trees. This effect is even more pronounced in winter when the songbirds puff themselves up to protect themselves from the cold. The tail that gives the birds their name, however, gives the little birds a fabulous balance, which is why, despite their round shape, they are able to perform surprisingly graceful maneuvers on very fine branches. However, the second part of their name is a bit misleading. Tail tits are not closer to our conventional ones Blue tits or Great tits related. You can find out how to identify funny songbirds, recognize young animals and give tailed tits a home in our large profile with pictures and other exciting information.

Tail tit: wanted poster

size	About 14 cm
weight	Up to 10 g
Breeding season	March - June
lifespan	About 5 years
habitat	Forests, parks and gardens with lots of undergrowth
Feed preference	Insects, spiders, seeds and nuts
Threats	Decline in food and living space

This is how you can recognize the tailed tit

Tail tits are distinctive. The small birds have black and white wing coverts, a black back and pink shoulders. Their underside and face are whitish, the flanks slightly pink. The long, dark tail is more than half the length of the body. Male and female tailed tits cannot be distinguished from a purely optical point of view.

The subspecies found in Central Europe Aegithalos caudatus europaeus is also characterized by a dark stripe over the eyes. The subspecies Aegithalos caudatus caudatus, which is mainly native to Northern Europe, has a pure white head.

How does the tail tit song sound?

The singing of the tail titmouse is quite inconspicuous and rarely heard. It consists of a low, high-pitched twittering and trilling. In addition to singing, the little bird also has other bird sounds, such as several Shouts: From a purring "Zerrr" to a three-syllable "Sri-sri-sri" to a clicking sound "Teck".

This is what the tail tit's song sounds like:

How do you recognize a young cocked tit?

Young tailed tits are just as distinctive as their parents. They can be recognized early on by their typical small body shape and long tail. They differ from the adult animals in that they have a dark forehead and dark sides of the head that accentuate their red eyelid ring. They're also missing the pink shoulders.

What do tail tit eggs look like?

Tail tits lay seven to twelve dull, whitish eggs. These are about 1.4 centimeters tall and covered with brownish or grayish speckles. The eggs are laid in an elaborate, oval nest with a side entrance and constructed from materials such as moss, plant fibers, feathers, cobwebs and hair.

Which habitat does the tailed tit prefer?

Tailed tits occur in mixed and deciduous forests, structure-rich, open areas, parks and gardens. A dense undergrowth of hedges, bushes or shrubs is important for them when choosing a habitat.

Where does the tail tit build its nest?

The tailed tit builds its nest in dense vegetation. This can be in a shrub close to the ground or in the fork of a high tree. The nest itself is built with great care and a lot of densely woven nesting material. The construction of this spherical work of art can take up to three weeks. From the outside, the nest is also camouflaged with lichen or bark.

When is the breeding season of the tailed tit?

The breeding season of the tail titmouse lasts from March to June. During this time, the pairs usually raise only one brood. The eggs are incubated by the female for about 14 days. During this time it is supplied with food by the male. After hatching, the young birds are fed in the nest. Depending on the number of eggs, other birds in addition to the parents can help with the feeding of the tailed tit. These helpers are mostly closely related to the male and are unmated or have failed in their attempt at breeding.

Where does the tailed tit spend the winter?

Our domestic tail tits also spend the winter with us. The small birds are very sensitive to the cold and therefore like to sleep snuggled together in small groups on branches or in protective bushes. Hard winters can severely decimate stocks.

Because of this, populations from more northerly regions escape their breeding grounds and move south. Then you will also be our guest and we have the option of the white-headed subspecies Aegithalos caudatus caudatus to be observed, which is otherwise at home in Northern Europe.

Support the tail tit in the garden: This is how it works

Structured areas with field trees and forests with dense undergrowth have become a rarity in our intensively used landscape. That is why numerous wild birds find refuge in parks or wild gardens. Find out here how you can give the tailed tit in its own garden a home.

What do tailed tits eat?

Tail tits feed mainly on insects and other small animals. In winter, however, these are in short supply, which is why the food spectrum consists of plant-based foods such as seeds or berries, is expanded.

If you want to help the little songbirds through the cold season and offer additional food, then you should go for grain or Fatty food to grab. Peanuts and other oleaginous seeds, for example, are popular because they provide a lot of energy. And tailed tits can also be seen on tit dumplings in winter. We therefore recommend ours as a special treat Plantura corn dumplings. These consist of high-quality insect fat and rich nuts, seeds and berries for an optimal supply of nutrients.

Which nesting aids are suitable for tailed tits?

Classic nesting boxes, such as those made for blue tits or great tits, are rarely used by tailed tits. If you want to try your luck, you should use a full cave box with an entrance hole of 3 cm. Like you in general Make your own nest box can be found in our special article.

However, do not be disappointed if your nesting aid is obtained from another species of bird, because tailed tits usually prefer to build their own nest. And here too you can support the small birds, because by offering bushy hedges or shrubs you can create natural nesting places. Very dense plants or plants that are armed with thorns, such as for example, are particularly recommended Wild rosesthat protect the breeding grounds from cats and other predators.

How can you additionally support the tailed tit?

Bird seed can be an important support for wild birds - especially in the cold season. Nonetheless, it is only an extra income and it is therefore extremely important to promote the birds' natural food supply. In the case of the great-tailed tits and many other garden birds, the motto here applies: Insect protection is bird protection. With the design of a insect-friendly garden you not only bring a lot of beneficial insects into your garden, but also offer wild birds a richly laid table. Creating a flowering meadow, for example, attracts pollinators, pest fighters and other small animals to your garden. You can do this particularly quickly and easily with ours, for example Plantura beneficial insect magnet.

However, it is better not to use chemical pesticides because they often contain toxic ones Substances and thus not only ensure a lower supply of insects, but the birds can even get through the food chain poison.

Incidentally, many other insectivorous garden birds, such as the one, are happy to have a poison-free, sustainable and lively garden Dunnock or the Graycatcher.