Marsh tit
Poecile palustris palustris
Habitat
In Europe, the Marsh tit is found from Great Britain and France to Russia, and from Scandinavia to northern Spain and Italy.
In many parts of its range, the Marsh tit inhabits mixed forests, oak forests, and beech forests. In addition, its natural habitat consists of lowlands to mountainous areas with mature deciduous forests and forests with relatively many dead or decaying trees with open undergrowth.
Appearance
Diet
The Marsh tit is omnivorous. This means that its diet consists of both plant and animal matter.
Breeding
The Marsh tit has a monogamous mating system, with the pair bond lasting for life. The breeding season takes place between the end of March and June. During the mating ritual, the male will feed the female. When the female responds positively, she will flap her wings and make begging calls.
The female builds the nest up to 10 meters above the ground in a hole in a tree or stump. The nest consists of a cup of moss, plant material, animal hair, and feathers. Since the Marsh tit is a secondary cavity nester, this bird species does not dig holes but makes its nest in existing holes.
The female lays 5 to 11 eggs and incubates them for 13 to 17 days. During this period, the male provides her with food. When the chicks hatch, they are fed by both parents. After 16 to 20 days, the young fly the nest, but continue to be fed by their parents for another 7 days. Fifteen days after fledging, the young will leave their parents’ territory.