Scientific name:
Aegithalidae

Natural spread:
Europe, Asia, North America

the small, roundish ones and kurzschnäbeligen tail-titmice, because of its long tail also "pan-stalk-little" named, is as stand-birds in the borealen, moderated and subtropical zones of Eurasia and in North America spreads. Only the most northern brood-populations move in the cold season southwards. On the distinctive stand-bird-behavior, the formation of very many subtypes (coloring-differences) is to be led back.

Way of life Foliage and Mischwälder, but also parks and gardens are the preferred biotopes; higher mountain-situations are normally avoided on that occasion, however the tail-titmice prolonged its habitat in the southwestern China up to 3000 m of height. The birds collect the almost exclusively animal food carefully in the Gezweig from. To this, smallest Kerbtiere, like Z, belong. B. Leaf or sign-lice. Only rarely, a seed or a leaf-bud stand on the menu, and the birds have its effort with it, because its beak is extremely small.

The tail-titmice live very sociably, in fact usually over the own family-association out. Not only belongs to this, that no own brood-precincts are formed but that even other Artgenossen take part in the Aufzucht of the boys as well. So also the chant is entitled only to an insignificant role while particular voice-contact-lutes serve the contact and the nearer moving closer of the birds, if it, together-nestled narrowly, in small groups together the night spends.

The trilling warning-reputation, that is to never be heard with the actual titmice in this form, is clearer.

Types In Europe, the tail-titmouse (Aegithalos caudatus) is as single type; 14 cm of length, 8-9 cm of tail-length, 0,65 cm of beak-length, to find, however in many subtypes. it occurs until China eastward, is marked as own type by some researchers there, however. They remain south considerably smaller - and southeast-Asian representatives of the same type, approximately the red-forehead-tail-titmouse (Ae). concinnus, with 10 cm of length. Even smaller representatives (9 cm of length) occur in North America and are called bush-titmice (type Psaltriparus), Z. B. the cap-bush-titmouse (P). minimus, and the strip-bush-titmouse (P). melanotis.

Brood The tail-titmouse (Aegithalos caudatus) builds a very artistic, usually oval nest in the dense hedge (1,5-6 m high) or in light trees (up to 20 m of height). Hair, moss, bark and webs serves as Niststoffe; they are become matted together carefully. Both partners are involved in the difference to the actual titmice here. Three weeks pass until the completion. The nests are quite big (8-12 eggs) and are incubated by the female mainly. This is stuck for 12-14 days on the eggs and is fed by the male by the lateral nest-entrance. Even if the boys slipped, both alto-birds still sleep in the nest. Often, it becomes so narrow that the nest-wall becomes brittle and the long tails of the squabs outside hang out. All young get along well together. they only leave the nest if they are (after 14-18 days) airworthy and still even then rove through the area together while the alto-birds take care of the second yearly-brood occasionally.