Marsh tit

    Parus palustris

Castilian: Carbonero palustre

Catalan: Mallerenga d'aigua

Gallego: Ferreiriño palustre

Euskera: Kaskabeltz txikia

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Paridae

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”.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

listen song

THREATS

The primary threat is tree felling and the replacement of ash, oak and beech trees with pine and eucalyptus trees.

Length / size: 11,5 cm / 18-19,5 cm

Identification: Bird that is similar to the coal tit; its back is brown, its belly is whitish, and it does not have white markings on its wings. Its crown and small bib are black, its cheeks are white, and it does not have a white marking on its nape.

Song: It does not make frequent calls. It makes them explosively, similar to a blue tit, or with short reiterated "pee-tscheeoo pee-tscheeoo pee-tscheeoo" sounds.

Diet: It feeds on spiders and insects in spring and autumn, and on seeds and fleshy or dry fruits in autumn and winder. It also consumes a considerable amount of plant matter. It stores food in tree stumps and under dead leaves.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in April. The female prepares the nest, positioning it near the ground or inside tree trunks; it is usually built using moss and lined with hair and feathers. The male feeds the female while she incubates the eggs, and both parents are responsible for feeding the chicks. They remain in the same breeding area and use the same hollow to place the nest; even if one of the two disappears, the other remains in the same area until it finds a mate again.

HABITAT

Dependent on mixed and wet forests, with ask, oak, and/or beech trees. It also occupies river meadows and undergrowth.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is principally distributed in the Cantabrian, Pyrenees, and surrounding mountain ranges, where it escapes from the summer drought. It is also found in forests in the Iberian System.

In Castile and León: It is located in the Cantabrian Mountains, Montes de León and Ancares. The principal populations are found in northern León, Palencia, Burgos and Soria.

Movements and migrations: It is a sedentary species in the Iberian Peninsula, remained in its breeding area and moving somewhat more in winter.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 80000-100000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of less than 8000 breeding pairs.