Eurasian blue tit

Eurasian blue tit
Lancashire, United Kingdom
Call
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Cyanistes
Species:
C. caeruleus
Binomial name
Cyanistes caeruleus
  Eurasian blue tit range
Synonyms

Parus caeruleus Linnaeus, 1758

Eurasian blue tit in Sweden, April 2018

The Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)[2] is a small passerine bird in the tit family, Paridae. It is easily recognisable by its blue and yellow plumage and small size.

Eurasian blue tits, usually resident and non-migratory birds, are widespread and a common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and the western Palearctic in deciduous or mixed woodlands with a high proportion of oak. They usually nest in tree holes, although they easily adapt to nest boxes where necessary. Their main rival for nests and in the search for food is the larger and more common great tit.

The Eurasian blue tit prefers insects and spiders for its diet. Outside the breeding season, they also eat seeds and other vegetable-based foods. The birds are famed for their acrobatic skills, as they can hold on to the outermost branches of trees and shrubs and hang upside down when looking for food.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Cyanistes caeruleus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103761667A118689415. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103761667A118689415.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Latin_ref was invoked but never defined (see the help page).