The tits are a large family of small passerine birds which occur mainly in the Northern Hemisphere
and Africa.
Members of this family are commonly referred to as "tits" throughout much of the world,
but North American species are called either "chickadees", derived from their distinctive
alarm call, or "titmice".
The name titmouse is recorded from the 14th century, composed of the Old English name
for the bird, mase, and tit, denoting something small.
As a bird family of many variations, it is time for us to take a look at 10 of the most
beautiful tits in the world.
Number 10.
Ranging from the foothills of the Himalayas, stretching across northern India through north-eastern
Bangladesh, northern Myanmar and Vietnam, the black throated bushtit is unmistakable
with a black throat and a black 'bandit mask' around the eye.
Living in open broadleaf forest as well as pine forest, this beautiful bird is often
difficult to see, where the presence is usually given away by its high-pitched contact calls.
It is a highly social bird and will travel in large flocks of up to 40 birds.
As a species of very large range, this bird is rated as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Number 9.
The green-backed tit is found in a variety of deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests
ranging from boreal and temperate forests, to subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
They are a residential cavity-nesting species, and forage on a wide variety of foods, including
fruits, insects, and seeds, although they focus mainly on eating invertebrates
during summer, and seeds during winter.
This species looks very similar to the great tit but can be distinguished by its two white
wing bars, the white patch at the base of its wing covers, brighter green upperparts
and blue leading edges on its wing feathers.
Number 8.
A small titmouse with a dashing swirl of black and white on its face,
the Bridled Titmouse is a specialty of the middle-elevation forests of the southwestern
U.S. and adjacent Mexico.
In lower canyons of the Arizona mountains, the Bridled Titmouse is often one of the most
common birds at all seasons, with small flocks moving about and chattering in the oaks as
they search the branches for insects.
Nesting behavior within this species is poorly known.
Pairs may remain together at all seasons, establishing nesting territory after flocks
break up in late winter.
Number 7.
The yellow tit, also known as Taiwan yellow tit, or Formosan yellow tit is Endemic to
central Taiwan, where it inhabits montane temperate forest.
With the length of 13 cm, this bird is mostly yellow, with a blue-grey crest and back.
As a resident of a restricted range and existing in small population, large-scale capture for
export by the wild bird trade has caused the population of this species to decline.
Beacause of that, it is now classed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Number 6.
The Eurasian blue tit is easily recognisable by its blue and yellow plumage and small size.
Usually resident and non-migratory, they are widespread and a common resident breeder throughout
temperate and subarctic Europe and the western Palearctic in deciduous or mixed woodlands
with a high proportion of oak.
These beautiful birds are famed for their acrobatic skills, as they can cling to the
outermost branches and hang upside down when looking for food,
where they eat insects and spiders.
Outside the breeding season however, they will also eat seeds and other vegetable-based
foods.
With around 20–44 million pairs currently in Europe, this bird is classified as Least
Concern on the IUCN Red list.
Number 5.
The tufted titmouse is a small songbird from North America where it inhabits deciduous
and mixed woods as well as gardens, parks, and shrublands.
They are approximately six inches in length with a white front and grey upper body outlined
with rust colored flanks.
Although the tufted titmouse is non-migratory and originally native to Ohio and Mississippi,
factors such as bird feeders have caused these birds to occupy a larger amount of territory
across the United States and stretching into Ontario, Canada.
From 1966 to 2015, the tufted titmouse population has increased by more than 1.5% per year throughout
the northeastern U.S., Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Number 4.
Occuring in the eastern Palearctic in Japan, Korea, China and Russia, the varied tit is
an active and colorful inhabitant of temperate lowland and foothill forests.
Combination of bright orange underparts, blue-gray wings, and white cheeks is unmistakable within
its range.
Chestnut-bellied Tit is near-identical, but it is restricted to Taiwan.
Inhabiting open mixed forests, coniferous forests as well as bamboo forests, this bird
eats a mixed diet consisting of seeds and insects, namely caterpillars.
Tame and boisterous, often frequenting gardens, parks, and backyard feeders, particularly
in the winter.
Number 3.
Widespread and common throughout Russia, Central Asia, Manchuria and Pakistan, the azure tit
is generally a frosty, pale bundle of joy.
Nominate northern population is white with a shadowy black outlining of the cheek, bright
blue-and-white striped wings, and a clean white breast.
Meanwhile, the Central Asian and Central Chinese birds have a bright yellow patch on the breast.
This beautiful species is the eastern counterpart of the common Eurasian blue tit.
It will hybridise with the eurasian blue tit, but the offspring usually show a blue crown,
rather than the white of azure tit.
Number 2.
Found from Central Nepal into the eastern Himalayas extending into Southern China, Myanmar,
Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula, the sultan tit is stunningly beautiful with
a yellow crest, dark bill, black upperparts plumage and yellow underparts.
Inhabiting lowland forests, this stunning bird feeds mainly on insects but sometimes
on figs.
The position of this species within its clade is still not clearly established, as it is
quite different in both size and coloration compared to any other tit.
Widely distributed within suitable habitats throughout its large range, the Sultan Tit
is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Number 1.
Inhabiting boreal forests, the white-browed tit-warbler is a resident in the Tian Shan
and central China as well as in the Himalayas where it is mainly found in winter.
The males are vibrantly colored, with distinctive blue-mauve underparts, while the females are
generally duller.
Feeding mainly on insects and spiders, these cute birds are vigorous foragers, where they
will search under roots and rocks.
In the colder months however, their diet is supplemented by a small amount of seeds and
berries.
Even though the bird is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Tibetan study found a significant
decline in nests between 2005 and 2007, but it was uncertain what had caused such a steep
losses.