Long-tailed Tit
(Aegithalos caudatus)
Noisy, chatty and incredibly cute, the long-tailed tit is perhaps the most unique member of the tit family. These birds are recognised by their striped black and white bodies, a baby pink stomach and bead-like black eyes. Unsurprisingly, they have a very large tail which is much longer than their body and causes their undulating, jumping flight pattern.
Where there’s one long-tailed tit, there’s usually several more close by! Long-tailed tits stay in their family groups, which can be up to 20 birds, and they often squabble excitedly together in the hedgerows.
Long-tailed tits build incredible nests which are domelike structures made from moss, cobwebs and lichen. The nest is constructed and balanced in the fork of a tree and then lined with up to 1,500 feathers, providinbullfncg luxury for 8-12 long-tailed tit eggs.