Long-tailed tit

    Aegithalos caudatus

Castilian: Mito

Catalan: Mallerenga cuallarga

Gallego: Ferreiriño rabilongo

Euskera: Buztanluzea

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Aegithalidae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

In semi-arid areas this species takes refuge in riparian forests, which are scarce and have been altered. Also, tree felling and the planting of pine, poplar and eucalyptus trees, which produce a decrease in vegetation, represent a threat in progress.

Length / size: 12-14 cm / 16-19 cm

Identification: Small, rounded bird that is characterised by its dark tail with very long white edges (7-9 cm). Its head and underparts are whitish, its sides and belly are pinkish-brown, and it often has spots on its breast. Its back, tail and wings are blackish.

Song: When it moves in groups, it makes a continuous trisyllabic call, "sree-sree-sree". Dry "zep" clicks when it is alarmed.

Diet: It primarily feeds on insects and arachnids that it locates under leaves and small branches while it rummages around them.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in March. The bird takes about 3 weeks to build its nest, with participation from both the male and female. It is a closed and elongated structure with a small hole in the top part using fur from large mammals, moss, feathers and covered with lichens, which makes it unnoticeable. Both parents feed the chicks.

HABITAT

It occupies well-developed forests where there is significant undergrowth, primarily oak and pine groves. In winter its distribution is more widespread, appearing even in parks and gardens. It is usually found in elevational ranges of less than 1,700 metres.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is distributed throughout practically the entire area, but avoids areas that are dry or that do not have a brush layer, such as La Mancha.

In Castile and León: The largest populations are located in oak groves in León, the Cantabrian Mountains and Segovia, although it is very widespread.

Movements and migrations: It is a sedentary species in the peninsula. It usually moves in family groups with nomadic behaviour, primarily in winter.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of more than 700000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: