| Penduline tits | |
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| Eurasian penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Infraorder: | Passerida |
| Family: | Remizidae Olphe-Galliard, 1891 |
| Genera | |
Thependuline tits constitute thefamilyRemizidae, of smallpasserinebirds related to the truetits. All but theverdin make elaborate bag nests hanging from trees (whence "penduline", hanging), usually over water.
Penduline tits are tiny passerines, ranging from 7.5 to 11 cm in length, that resemble the true tits (Paridae) but have finer bills with more needle-like points. Their wings are short and rounded and their short tails are notched (except the stub-tailed tit). The penduline tits' typical plumage colors are pale grays and yellows and white, though the European penduline tit has black and chestnut markings and some species have bright yellow or red.[1]
The penduline tits live inEurasia and Africa and North America. The genusRemiz is almost exclusivelyPalearctic, ranging discontinuously fromPortugal and the tip of northernMorocco through toSiberia and Japan. The largest genus,Anthoscopus, is found in sub-Saharan Africa from theSahel through toSouth Africa. Theverdin lives in arid parts of the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico.
Several species of penduline tit aremigratory, although this behaviour is only shown in species found in Asia and Europe; African species and the verdin are apparently sedentary. The Eurasian penduline tit is migratory over parts of its range, with birds in northern Europe moving south in the winter but birds in southern Europe remaining close to their breeding areas. In contrast theChinese penduline tit is fully migratory and undertakes long-distance migrations.
Most live in open country with trees or bushes, ranging from desert to marsh to woodland, but theforest penduline tit lives inrain forest. They spend most of the year in small flocks.[1]
Insects form the larger part of the diet of the penduline tits, and they are active foragers. Their long conical bill is used to probe into cracks and prise open holes in order to obtain prey. Nectar, seeds and fruits may also be taken seasonally. Their foraging behaviour is reminiscent of the true tits (Paridae), foraging upside-down on small branches, manoeuvring branches and leaves with their feet in order to inspect them, and clasping large prey items with one foot while dismembering them.[2]
The common name of the family reflects the tendency of most species to construct elaborate pear-shapednests. These nests are woven fromspiderweb, wool and animal hair and soft plant materials, which are suspended from twigs and branches in trees. The nests of the African genusAnthoscopus are even more elaborate than the EurasianRemiz, incorporating a false entrance above the true entrance which leads to a false chamber. The true nesting chamber is accessed by the parent opening a hidden flap, entering and then closing the flap shut again, the two sides sealing with sticky spider webs.[2]
The verdin builds a domed nest out of thorny twigs. In some penduline tit species the eggs are white, sometimes with red spots. The verdin lays blue-green eggs with red spots. Incubation lasts about 13 or 14 days, and the nestlingsfledge at about 18 days.[1] In penduline tits, higher incidents of extra-pair paternity results in lower rates of male care, suggesting that extra-pair offspring devalues parental care.[3]
The family Remizidae was introduced in 1891 (as Remizeae) by the French ornithologistLéon Olphe-Galliard.[4][5] Sometimes, these birds are included assubfamilyRemizinae in the tit familyParidae. Whichtaxonomic lineup scientists prefers is primarily a matter of taste; that these families are close relatives is well established by now. If they are considered a separate family, thesultan tit and theyellow-browed tit would possibly need to be excluded from the Paridae.[6][7] The placement of thetit-hylia within this family is particularly controversial, it having variously been placed with thesunbirds,waxbills,honeyeaters and most recently close to thegreen hylia.[8] It is placed in the familyCettiidae.
The family contains 11 species in 3 genera:[9]
| Image | Genus | Living species |
|---|---|---|
_zoom.jpg) | RemizJarocki, 1819 |
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.jpg) | AnthoscopusCabanis, 1850 |
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 | AuriparusS.F. Baird, 1864 |
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