| Azure Tit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Paridae |
| Genus: | Cyanistes |
| Species: | Cyanistes cyanus |
The Azure Tit (Cyanistes cyanus) is a small Eurasian passerine bird in the family Paridae.
Description[]
A small and mobile bird, its body length is 13-14 cm (5.1-5.5 in) and mass is 10-12 g (0.35-0.42 oz). Sexual dimorphism is not expressed. The color of the back is blue-gray. The wings, with a white patch, and and the white-edged tail are both dark blue, and from the beak to the eyes and nape, there is a dark blue stripe. The underparts, crown and head are white. The young are similar to adults, but with greyer upperparts.
Voice[]
The song is a short twitter performed on high notes - "tsi-tsi-tsyrrrz". Its call is a short or long "tsii-tsii-de-de".
Behavior[]
Feeding[]
The Azure Tit is mainly an insectivorous bird, feeding on pupae and larvae of butterflies, bedbugs, aphids, grasshoppers, crickets, flies, bees, wasps, ants and beetles. In addition, various spiders are eaten. In winter, plant seeds are also consumed.
Breeding and Nesting[]
Mainly tree hollow nesters, Azure Tits build nests often positioned at a height of 0.5 to 2 m from the ground, rarely up to 3 m and above. The bird nests from May to June. The clutch size is usually 3 eggs, sometimes more and even up to 12 eggs, and incubation lasts 13-14 days. The chicks leave the nest at the age of about 16 days.
Distribution and Habitat[]
The Azure Tit is distributed in central Eurasia from Belarus and Ukraine to the coast of the Sea of Japan. Its range covers the southern forest, forest-steppe and partly steppe zone of Eastern Europe, the southern regions of Western and Eastern Siberia, the Pamir Mountains, the Tien Shan, and the Far East. It is most numerous in the eastern slopes of the Urals and southern Western Siberia. It is found sporadically everywhere else.