1. Eurasian blue tit– Cyanistes caeruleus
The Eurasian blue tit is a small bird with a body length of 12-13 cm and a weight of 10-12 g. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is blue, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic bang on the head. The Eurasian blue tit has a short, straight beak.
The Eurasian blue tit is common in Europe, Asia and North Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The Eurasian blue tit is a settled bird. It lives in deciduous and mixed forests, parks and gardens. The Eurasian blue tit nests in the hollows of trees, sometimes occupying the nests of other birds. The nest is built of soft moss, lichens, feathers and wool. There are 5-12 eggs in the clutch of the Eurasian blue tit. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 12-14 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The Eurasian blue tit feeds on insects, their larvae, spiders, berries and seeds.
The Eurasian blue tit is a fairly common species, but in some regions its numbers are declining. The reasons for this are the destruction of forests, poaching and the use of chemical plant protection products.
In Ukraine, the Eurasian blue tit is not listed in the Red Book.
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko