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Eurasian Blue Tit
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Cyanistes
Species: Cyanistes caeruleus

The Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus, previously Parus caeruleus), is a bird which enjoys gardens and eats from bird feeders and tables. It is also loved by many gardeners as it eats aphids.

Description[]

Similar to the Great Tit in appearance, the Blue Tit is slightly smaller, measuring about 12 cm in length, 18 cm in wingspan and weighing about 10 grams, and has overall colder colours. It has a dull green back, blue nape, wings and tail, a white wing bar, yellow underparts, a blue crown, a white supercilium and a dark blue stripe that crosses the eye and borders the white cheek all the way down to the chin, where it forms a small bib. The wings are rounded and the tail is slightly forked. The bill is short, fine and dark, and the legs are grey.

Occurrence[]

Bluetit

Adult in blooming tree.

Blue Tits can be found across Europe, common in wooded and forested habitats, parks, gardens, and hedges in farmland. It often visits backyards; using bird feeders and nest boxes.

Behavior[]

This bird is often seen in groups, sometimes mixed with other small bird species, especially during the winter.

Feeding[]

DSC01397

Blue Tits occasionally feed on fruit.

The Blue Tit is a valuable destroyer of pests, though it has not an entirely clean sheet as a beneficial species. It is fond of young buds of various trees, and may pull them to bits in the hope of finding insects. No species, however, destroys more coccids and aphids, the worst foes of many plants. It takes leaf miner grubs and green tortrix moths. Seeds and other vegetable-based fare are also eaten.

Nesting[]

Juvenile blue tit

Juvenile

A fairly small bird, the Blue Tit is well adapted to gardens and nesting boxes. It will nest in any suitable hole in a tree, wall, or stump, or an artificial nest box, often competing with House Sparrows or Great Tits for the site. Unfortunately, the young leave the nest early and are likely to be eaten by cats and foxes.

Similar Birds[]

Gallery[]

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