These birds are mainly small stockywoodlandspecies with short stoutbills. Some havecrests. They range in length from 10 to 22 centimetres. They are adaptable birds, with a mixeddiet includingseeds andinsects.[1]
Many species will live around human habitation and come readily tobird feeders for nuts or seed, and learn to take other foods. In Britain,great tits andblue tits learned to break through the foil caps sealing bottles ofmilk on doorsteps, to get at thecream on top. Of course, the change in milk packaging has robbed them of this delicacy.
These are hole-nesting birds, typically using trees, although some species build nests on the ground. They lay anything from three to nineteen speckled whiteeggs, depending on species.[1]
The tits are active, noisy, social birds. They areterritorial during the breeding season. The tits are highly adaptable and, after thecorvids (crows andjays) andparrots, amongst the most intelligent of all birds.[2]
The tits make a variety of calls and songs. They are amongst the most vocal of all birds, calling continuously and loudly. They are only ever silent for reasons such as avoidingpredators or when intruding on arival's territory. Quiet calls are made while feeding to keep contact with others in their social group.[2] Other calls are used for signalling alarm—the most famous of which is the "Chic-a-dee-dee" of North American species in the genusPoecile. The call also serves a rallying call to summon others to mob and harass the predator. It has been demonstrated through experiments that the number of "dee" syllables at the end of the call increases with the level of danger the predator poses.[3]
Hammer-holding is a common way for the family to deal with food itemsBlue tit with prey item
The tits areinsectivorous, and eat a wide range of small insects and otherinvertebrates, particularly smallleaf-eatingcaterpillars. They also eatseeds andnuts, especially in winter. A typical activity ishanging, where they inspect a branch or twig and leaves from all angles while hanging upside down to feed.[2]
In areas with several species of tit, the different species will forage (search) in different parts of a tree. Larger species search on the ground, medium sized species search on larger branches, and the smallest species on the ends of branches. If they get larger prey or seeds, tits will do 'hold-hammering'. They hold the item with one foot, and hammer it with their bill (beak) until it is open. In this way they can openhazelnuts in 20 minutes.
Many birds store food in acache or hiding place. They hoard supplies of food for the winter.[4] These caches are usually of seeds but may be of insects.
↑1.01.1Perrins, C. (1991). Forshaw, Joseph (ed.).Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds. London: Merehurst Press. pp. 202–203.ISBN1-85391-186-0.
↑2.02.12.2Gosler, Andrew; Clement, Peter (2007). "Family Paridae (tits and chickadees)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David (eds.).Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 662–709.ISBN9788496553422.
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