two subfamilies, the actual Kleiber (Sittinae) and the wall-runners (Tichodrominae), is summarized to the family of the Kleiber or woodpecker-titmice.
Actual Kleiber (subfamily Sittinae)) The Kleiber are represented (1 types, 15 types) in the elderly and new world.
Way of life Only few other bird-types show similar behaviors with the food-search. they can at the tree-trunks with its powerful feet head-downward namely just as skillfully as - climbs upward. They hold on that occasion with a foot in each case and drag the other, doesn't use the tail as Stützorgan, however, as we know it from other trunk-climbers.
Nutrition With its powerful and pointed beak, the Kleiber look for insects and their larvae in gap-areas of trees and rocks, can out-chisel the loot also from soft Borke, however. The animal food is supplemented through seeds above all in the winter; hard-shell fruits become aufgehämmert. So that they don't slip out of the hands of the bird, it clamps it one into suitable columns. The Kleiber position small reserve-camps with sufficient food-offer.
Nest-construction The Kleiber (= "glue") got its name through another behavior. Many types glue shut the entrance of its Nisthöhle to the protection against enemies and Nistplatz-Konkurrenten as far as on one small opening namely, that allows exactly in and going out. As materials comes for this, deceased from type to type, many natural materials in consideration, Z. B. Clay, plant-fibers, bark-scrap etc.., this with a binder (game-motto, pulverized Kerbtiere, tree-resin) verkittet becomes.
The Felsenkleiber (Sitta neumayer) and the Klippenkleiber (Sitta tephronota) build even the spherical Nisthöhle (diameters 10-25 cm) itself and fortify it at rock-walls.
Other types don't "stick" at all on the other hand, because they chisel its brood-cave in rotten wood and leave the entrance sufficiently small from the start. Here, the other, systematically wrong name "Spechtmeisen" has its origin.
Kleiber (Sitta europaea)) The Kleiber populated a large variety of forested terrain of Europe and Asia as stand-bird predominantly. While is preferred in Europe Mischwald with old beeches and oaks, it lives in Asia above all in light, dry jaw-forest. Northwards, the Taiga forms its habitat, in mediterranen areas oak-forest and olive-groves. Many geographical races (up to 25) are summarized in this type. The Siberian populations hike invasion-nicely southward in some winters or west (immigration or invasion-birds).
Brood its nests usually put up the Kleiber in holes or caves of trunks over the earth at. In South-Asia, one also finds it densely over the ground and even in clay and stone-walls. Big cave-entrances are reduced by the females with clay mainly. The actual nest is a relaxed bowl from bark-chips and foliage.
End of April until beginning of May, the brood-period uses in our area. The 6-8 eggs are incubated only by the female, however, the male feeds regularly. If the nest-stools slipped after 14-18 days, they must still be looked after from the two alto-birds 23-25 days until they leave the nest. Even then, they still are dependent on its parents.
Precinct-formation In the age of 21/2 months, the Kleiber-Männchen begin to establish its precinct. Until the next spring, they must defend it against old-established pair or other young males. Until beginning of the incubation, its loud precinct-chant already is forward in the year to hear. Old pairs live in the same own-district in duration-marriage for life.
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