The answer to the question “What British bird has a crested head?” is the crested tit. The crested tit is a small bird native to Europe and Asia, known for the prominent black crest on its head. In Britain, the crested tit can be found in pine forests in Scotland, Northern England, and Northern Ireland. This article will provide an overview of the crested tit, including its physical description, habitat, diet, breeding habits, conservation status, and interesting facts. Keep reading to learn more about this charming little bird with a fancy hairdo!
Physical Description
The crested tit gets its name from the striking crest of feathers on its head. The crest is black in color, short and spiky, and prominent on both males and females. When agitated, the bird can raise and lower this crest. Another distinctive feature is the black bib under the bird’s chin.
In terms of size, the crested tit measures 11.5-13 cm long with a wingspan of 17-21 cm and weighs between 9-12 grams. This makes it one of the smaller tit species. The bird has a slender build with a relatively large head compared to its body size.
Its plumage is primarily blue-grey above and pale below. The underparts are buff-white with an orange-buff wash on the flanks and breast. The face is white with a broad black stripe running through the eye. The tail and wings are bluish-grey with white outer tail feathers. The bill is short and black, and the legs are black too.
Male and female crested tits look identical. Juveniles have a less prominent crest and paler plumage overall until they molt into adult feathers.
Habitat
The crested tit inhabits coniferous forests, particularly Scots pine, across Eurasia. In Britain, it is most numerous in ancient Caledonian pine woods in the Scottish Highlands. It also occurs at low densities in planted pine forests and mixed woodlands with scattered pine trees in parts of Northern England and Northern Ireland.
This species favors mature pine forests with a well-developed canopy layer and plenty of deadwood. It forages amongst the pine needles and branches of old trees and nests in hollows within live or dead trees. The tit excavates its own nest holes or uses existing cavities and holes created by woodpeckers.
Crested tits are non-migratory residents throughout their range. They establish and defend breeding and wintering territories of 2-20 hectares in size. Pairs may roam more widely outside the breeding season while foraging.
Diet
The crested tit is primarily insectivorous, feeding on small invertebrates like beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and insects. This species joins mixed-species foraging flocks with other tits and small woodland birds. It spends most of its time hopping along branches and probing into crevices of bark and pine needles searching for prey.
In the summer, the tits take insect larvae and adults while in winter they eat eggs, pupae, spiders, and seeds. Crested tits occasionally visit bird feeders for seeds and suet. Their small bills allow them to extract tiny insects and seeds from cones and crevices.
This agile little bird can hang upside down and hover briefly to glean prey items. It may also store food items to eat later. The crested tit has a very fast metabolism and must consume large amounts of food relative to its body size, especially in winter.
Breeding
The crested tit breeding season runs from April to June. These birds are monogamous and solitary nesters, establishing territories before pair formation. Courtship displays include crest raising and wing fluttering by the male.
The nest is located in a hole excavated by the birds themselves or in a natural tree cavity or old woodpecker hole. The nest is built from moss, grass, wool, hair, and feathers, and lined with finer materials. The female constructs the nest alone while the male provides some food.
A clutch contains 3-8 white eggs with tiny reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs alone for 13-16 days until they hatch. The chicks are altricial, hatching naked and helpless. Both parents feed the young through regurgitation. The chicks fledge at 16-19 days old but remain dependent on their parents for 2-3 more weeks.
Crested tits may raise 2-3 broods per breeding season. Nests are susceptible to predation from squirrels, martens, and woodpeckers. Adult crested tits have few natural predators though sparrowhawks may occasionally prey on them.
Conservation Status
The crested tit has a widespread distribution but is generally uncommon throughout its range. Its populations are declining moderately across Europe. However, it is not considered globally threatened and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
In the UK, this species has undergone significant declines since the 1970s, more so in England than in Scotland. Loss of native Caledonian pine forests is presumed responsible for reducing numbers in Scotland. The crested tit is included on the UK Red List as Near Threatened.
Ongoing conservation efforts aim to protect remaining pine forests and restore new habitat through tree planting schemes. Nest boxes and supplementary winter feeding also help support crested tit populations. But more habitat protection and restoration is needed to ensure the long-term survival of this unique bird in Britain.
Interesting Facts
Here are a few interesting and quirky facts about the charming crested tit:
- Its scientific name is Lophophanes cristatus. Lophophanes comes from the Greek words lophos meaning crest and phanĂªs meaning showing, referring to the bird’s distinctive crest.
- The crested tit is the only crested member of the tit family Paridae.
- Its crest may help establish social dominance and signal aggression when raised.
- When roosting, the bird leans forward to bring its crest into contact with the tree branch, possibly to provide camouflage.
- Crested tits can be very acrobatic, hanging upside down and hovering briefly while foraging.
- Regional “dialects” in their songs have been observed across different populations.
- The crested tit was once classified as a subspecies of the willow tit before gaining full species status.
- Fossil evidence shows crested tits have occurred in Europe since the Pleistocene era.
Conclusion
In summary, the crested tit is a delightful small bird marked by the striking crest on its head that gives this species its name. With its preference for pine forests, limited range in Britain, and declining numbers, ongoing conservation efforts for habitat protection are needed to secure the crested tit’s long-term future. This charismatic little acrobat provides a dash of color and activity to the pine woods it inhabits.