About Long Tailed Tits birds

With a blush, black and white body, and a long tail bigger than its body, the Long Tailed Tit is easily recognisable and its charming and acrobatic side is what people love to observe!

This small passerine bird is found throughout Asia and Europe and belongs to the Aergithalidae family. 

These birds show a lot of social behaviour and are noisy residents in the UK, they are often seen in small flocks of about 20 - and together they flit through trees in search of insects and other small invertebrates. 

During cold nights and harsh winters, the Long Tailed Tit has been known to form communal roosts - this is where several birds huddle together for warmth at night. 

Do Long Tailed Tits migrate?

In general, the Long Tailed Tit can be spotted all year round as they are not a migratory bird. These sedentary birds stay in the same area all year round on one condition - the habitat and conditions remain favourable. 

However, even if the conditions did change enough for them to move, they would only do short distance migrations in the local area; and once they find food available, they will settle again. 

Are Long Tailed Tits common?

Yes, these birds are a common garden bird in the UK. In fact, 36% of gardens report seeing Long Tailed Tits, and in some areas this rises to 50%!

So in the UK, they are a familiar sight in many areas!

Where do Long Tailed Tits live?

The Long Tailed Tit is an adaptable bird that survives, and thrives, in many habitats across the UK. As long as they have access to suitable nesting grounds, food, water and shelter - these birds are pretty much able to make any habitat their home. 

You’ll mainly find this tiny bird in deciduous woodland - anywhere with dense undergrowth and a mix of tree species is their dream spot, so spots like this are very popular for this noisy bird. 

Adapting to urban and suburban environments, the Long Tailed Tit is also found to inhabit parks, gardens and some other green spaces. They’ll often be found in the trees, dense bushes and hedgerows as these are perfect for both foraging and nesting. 

Across rural landscapes, the Long Tailed Tits habitat of choice would be a hedgerow, and there are plenty of these in the UK countryside! This kind of habitat provides shelter, nesting sites and food sources all in one. Alongside this, in these more rural areas, Long Tailed Tits can be found in agricultural landscapes where they may nest in farmyards and outbuildings. 

Occasionally, you’ll find a Long Tailed Tit in a coastal habitat, including salt marshes, dunes and coastal woodlands. 

How long do Long Tailed Tits live?

The Long Tailed Tit has a relatively short lifespan. In the wild, they live for around two to three years. 

In the right conditions, some of these small birds may survive longer with a maximum of a seven year lifespan recorded. 

Facing many challenges in the wild such as predators, harsh weather and habitat loss, their survival rates can be impacted significantly. 

Long Tailed Tits breeding 

The Long Tailed Tits breeding season begins in late April and ends around June time, these times can vary depending on factors such as weather and habitat. 

Once the Long Tailed Tit forms a pair, they tend to mate for life. These adult birds will remain together throughout the breeding season, and some even stay together year round. 

Once they have found their partner, the male and female Long Tailed Tits will construct domed nests that look incredibly elaborate and can take up to three weeks to build. These are made from materials such as moss, feathers, lichen and spider silk. These nests are woven into a shape resembling a hanging sock. 

Once the nest is complete, the female will lay a clutch size of eight to 12 eggs. These eggs are small and white with red speckles. 

For 14 to 16 days, the female will incubate the eggs, whilst the male will make trips to bring the female food as she will rarely leave the nest. 

Once hatched, both the male and the female parent will feed the chicks a diet of insects and spiders. The young Long Tailed Tits grow rapidly and they fledge after 16 to 21 days. 

For a period of time, the parents will continue to feed and care for the young birds until they are able to fend for themselves. 

This bird usually exhibits communal nesting behaviour. This is where multiple birds build their nests close together in a cluster - this increases warmth and protects them from predators. 

What do Long Tailed Tits Eat?

The Long Tailed Tit (Aegithalos Caudatus) is an insectivorous bird, which means they mostly feed on insects and other small invertebrates. 

Typically, a Long Tailed Tits diet would consist of a range of insects, they love anything from caterpillars, beetles, ants and spiders! They’ll catch these insects from leaves, twigs and branches and use their slender bills to grab them. 

Alongside adult insects, Long Tailed Tits are also known to feed on larvae and insect eggs. They find this by probing crevices or cracks in bark.

Although insects do form the most part of the Long Tailed Tits diet, they also may snack on berries, seeds and other plants - especially during winter when insect availability is limited.

Long Tailed Tit Predators 

Due to their small size making them vulnerable, Long Tailed Tits are preyed on by quite a few predators!

Larger birds, such as Owls, are a big predator of the Long Tailed Tit. When the small bird is foraging in open areas, they may become vulnerable and be spotted by a larger bird of prey. 

Small mammals have been known to raid the Long Tailed Tits nests and prey on the eggs, chicks and sometimes the vulnerable parents. 

Cats are also a common predator, particularly in suburban areas where domestic cats are popular. 

How to Attract Long Tailed Tits into Your Garden

In the UK, Long Tailed Tits are a common garden visitor so it’s likely they are already hanging around, however, there are some ways to encourage these little birds! These birds are not likely to use nest boxes, however, there are other ways to create an inviting environment for them.

If you’ve got bird feeders out, make sure it’s food they like. To attract the Long Tailed Tit, offer them suet balls and mealworms. They will also feed on seed mixes too. 

Long Tailed Tits need a space to drink and bathe so it’s important to provide a bird bath or a shallow dish of water. Keep this water clean and regularly refresh it!

Include a variety of habitats in your garden, such as woodland edges, hedgerows, and mixed borders. Long Tailed Tits are versatile and will visit gardens of various sizes and types as long as there are suitable habitats and food sources available.

Five Facts about Long Tailed Tits

1. Long Tailed Tits are highly social birds and are often seen foraging in small, noisy flocks, especially during the winter months. They maintain close contact with one another through constant calling and can even synchronise their movements while foraging.

2. Long Tailed Tits are known for their elaborate nests, which are constructed from materials such as moss, lichen, feathers, and spider silk. The nest-building process is a communal effort, with both the male and female contributing to its construction. These intricate nests are often woven into the shape of a hanging sock and can contain up to 2,000 feathers.

3. During cold winter nights, long-tailed tits often roost communally for warmth. Several individuals will huddle together tightly, sometimes in groups of up to 20 or more birds, to conserve heat. This behaviour helps them survive harsh weather conditions.

4. Long Tailed Tits are easily recognisable by their unique appearance. They have a relatively large head, tiny beak, and a long, narrow tail, which is longer than their body. Their plumage is predominantly pink, white, and black, with various markings depending on the subspecies.

5. Long Tailed Tits have a varied diet consisting mainly of insects and other small invertebrates. They are highly adaptable foragers and can exploit a wide range of food sources, including insects, spiders, berries, and seeds. They are often observed flitting through trees and bushes, probing for food among foliage.