Long-Tailed Tit – Birds in my back garden

The tit family is one of the most popular of all garden birds in the UK. We love them for their colours but also the relationship we share with them. Many of us will have Blue Tits or Great Tits in nest boxes and look forward to them coming back each spring. But what about the Long Tailed Tit? The Long-Tailed Tit is often called the cutest of these small birds because it is so round and has pretty markings. They also have a habit of cuddling up together in the cold. These birds with their exceptionally long tails, don't favour nest boxes. Instead, they make structures in hedges from natural materials. But when exactly do Long-Tailed Tit nest? As a general rule, Long-Tailed Tit begin the nest building process in February when the birds start searching for the best materials, but less experienced birds may begin this process later. The female will go on to lay her eggs in the nest in April when the weather is warmer and there is a better chance of finding enough food. The Long-Tailed Tit is one of my favourite birds, small and fascinating. It's hard not to love these little guys, especially when you find out how much work they put into making their homes just right! So continue reading about this cute creature and it may become one of your favourite birds too!. Nesting Time In February The nest-building process starts in February when the birds start searching for the best materials. Both the male and female work to build the nest and feed the young, so it can be difficult to know which you are watching at work. Both the male and female birds look the same with their black caps, white faces ad buff-pink chests. However, the juveniles are different as they don't have pink colouration, so it is fun to watch out for these in late spring. The nesting behaviour of Long Tailed Tits in the UK is fascinating because there is so much more to their behaviour than simply building a nest. The birds lay their eggs around early April but could spend longer building the structures. That is because a Long Tailed Tit nest is an intricate and cleverly-engineered structure that requires a lot of care and the best materials. Then there are the other social habits of these birds that make them even more charming to watch. So, let's learn more about how this bird nests and roosts through the year. What Do Long Tailed Tit Nests Look Like? The Long-Tailed Tits nest structure is remarkable when you consider all the materials and the work that goes into it over those three weeks. Many other bird species don't put in half as much effort and make do with a mess of sticks or a depression in the ground. Others will turn to us for artificial nests or take over disused sites from other birds. The main structure of the nest is soft moss and lichen. This creates a nice cushion and mesh structure to work with. You may be lucky enough to watch these birds visiting trees in local parks and woodland with lots of moss or lichen on their branches. They pick it off and carry it to the nest site to build up the structure. It is great to work with because it meshes and knits together with less effort than weaving something out of grass and leaves. Also, colour variations give the nest more camouflage when hidden in a hedgerow. Another important material used in these nests is spider silk. This is easily obtained by collecting the cocoon enclosing spider eggs. These are dense and full of strong silk, so they provide lots of material. You may think that a web would be a strange choice. But, there is great strength and elasticity in this material. As a result, it adds strength to the nest and allows it enough flexibility to expand. Finally, the birds will gather lots of feathers and other soft materials to line the nest and make it even more warm and comfortable. This can make a big difference when it comes to regulating the temperature of the eggs and fledglings. It is said that there can be as many as 2500 feathers in a nest - all depending on how many the birds can source. In addition, they will pick up feathers from hedges and paths and may even pluck dead birds they come across. There is no point letting the soft downy feathers from an abandoned pigeon go to waste. There are even reports of these birds taking advantage of fur from wild and domesticated animals. Animals can get their coats caught on wire fences, such as rabbits and foxes, and the birds may take advantage of this free resource. Some also take pet hair. So, if you have a dog that sheds a lot, consider brushing them outside and letting the fur blow away. Or, leave a dog brush out on the patio and wait for the birds to pick out the hair. Why Do Long Tailed-Tits Make Their Nest In February? All of this necessary effort shows why it is so important that these birds start the nest building process in February. They can spend weeks sourcing as much high-quality material as possible and be sure of creating something warm and secure for their chicks. They will also have access to the best sites if they start early enough. Pairs that start their nest building later in the season, such as those with less experience, may not find as much to use and may be a little rushed to finish on time. This could result in smaller nests with less structural support and fewer feathers. Those rushed nests may also lead to a higher likelihood of the brood failing. The size of the nest is important as it needs to be cosy but also big enough for the whole family. Adult birds need to be able to sit on the eggs and use the entrance hole with ease as they go foraging. The nests typically measure 15cm high and 10cm wide. The shape and position of the hole are ideal for protection and access. When Do Long-Tailed Tit Lay Their Eggs? The female will then lay her eggs in the nest in April when the weather is warmer and there is a better chance of finding enough food. Typically, she will lay 8-12 eggs, although higher counts have been recorded. This may seem a lot for such a small nest, but that is where that elasticity becomes so important. The nest can stretch to accommodate the birds as they grow. Finally, after around 14 to 18 days, the young will leave the nest and feed with their parents in the outside world. Why Don't We See More Long-Tailed Tit Nests? It is rare to come across a Long Tailed Tit nest because they are so well hidden. You may come across the remains of a used one when working on a hedge or parts of a destroyed one in the countryside. But it is rare to see one completely intact unless deliberately retrieved. If you are aware of a nest site in your garden or the local area, make sure that it is completely empty and all young are far away before you consider taking it. An empty nest is a great way to see just how clever these birds are when engineering the structures and how soft the interior is. Will All The Nests Survive The Season? Tits that build a good nest and find enough food should be able to raise a lot of healthy chicks. Many will be able to see all 12 or more fledge and go on into adulthood. However, bad weather and predation are risk factors. A cold snap could be deadly for those that didn't insulate the nest well enough and a storm may cause damage if the nest isn't hidden well enough in the hedge. This is where the choice of materials and quantity is so important. There are times when the nest is unattended so that the parents can go out and find food. This may be for no more than 15 minutes at a time. In other nests, eggs could cool down too quickly without constant incubation. That isn't the case here. The downside of this tactic of leaving eggs unattended is that someone may find them. Predation will always be an issue for small birds if a nest is discovered. Even with the location and camouflage, other creatures can hear chicks and notice adults returning to the same spot. Small mammals that feed in the hedges may take advantage of the eggs if unattended. Corvids may also raid the nest for the eggs or the young. It is unfortunate but part of the natural selection process. Those that build the best nests and are the most attentive parents pass on their genes for a stronger UK population. Long Tailed Tits Remain Social With Strong Family Bonds Through The Year. Another important trait exhibited by these birds is that they are very social creatures. This is important for their survival in the breeding season and throughout the rest of the year. There are many cases in the avian world where species will find a mate in the spring, breed, and go their separate ways to fend for themselves. Even some monogamous birds drift apart and renew their bonds in spring. That isn't the case here. It isn't uncommon for these tits to work together and help feed a brood in spring. Related birds will forage and allow for a higher number of feeds per day. These birds could be part of the wider family who either failed to find a mate or wasn't successful in building a nest. This combined effort means that at least some of the next generation will survive and fledge. These large family groups will stay together for safety in numbers throughout the year. If you are in the woods and one flies onto a tree, wait around. Others are sure to follow and give you a great display. The fluffy little birds will huddle up together on branches to conserve body heat in the winter. Then, when the worst of the season is over, it is time to think about nest building again. How Likely Is It That You Will Find Long Tailed Tits Nesting In Your Garden? One of the great things about these birds' nests is that they are so well hidden that we could walk right past them. Thanks to the different mosses and lichens, they should be concealed deep in hedges and brambles and have perfect camouflage. There may be one in your hedge in spring, but don't go investigating to find out until later in the year. Instead, pay attention to the behaviour of any tits that visit the garden. Are they gathering food and then heading elsewhere or heading into the hedge? Your local population may find it more beneficial to nest in the local countryside with better cover and simply use your garden for food. If you don't get any visiting, you can either work on attracting more to your garden or try and find where the tits are in your local patch. How Can I Attract Long-Tailed Tit Into My Garden? It is understandable if you want to try and bring more Long Tailed Tits to your garden, and it is not impossible. It depends on what you have to offer them. For a start, do you have trees that make good roosting spots or that have moss and lichen for nest building? It is also good to create natural hedges with various native species to help birds that may choose to nest there. Don't expect these tits to use nest boxes as it doesn't suit their nesting style. These are better left for their Blue and Great Tit cousins. When Will Your Local Long Tailed Tits Nest? To summarize, you should expect to see the birds on your local patch gathering nesting material in February. This will be a nice burst of colour and activity at the end of winter. They may even take moss from your trees. In April, they will lay their eggs in the cosy nest, so watch out for a sign of repeat visits into hedgerows with food. Finally, you should see the youngsters with their families feeding out of the nest at the end of April or early May. Then you can enjoy watching them feed and roost through the year until it is time for them to nest again. See Also What is the difference between Sparrow and Dunnock?Birds of Prey: South and South-East EnglandWhat is the difference between Crow and Raven?What is the difference between Raven and Rook?Which birds murmurate? Video Birds on the feeder in my garden - Slow motionBirds in my bird bath #1Birds in my bird bath #2