16

European Crested Tit

(Lophophanes [Parus] cristatus)

German name(s): "Haubenmeise"
Size: 11-12 cm
Weight: 7-9 g

Similar species

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species Click here for a physical description

European Crested Tits are very small tits with a grey overall appearance. They have a black-and-grey scalloped crest, a black throat patch and otherwise light-grey plumage on the sides of the head and the front. The back (mantle, upperwings, tail) are a darker shade of grey. The irises, bill, legs and feet are all grey.

Taxonomy, classification

See European Crested Tit at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the ebird.org website.
The global distribution of the European Crested Tit is available HERE .

European Crested Tits are endemic to Europe. They populate all of south-western, central and eastern Europe to the Ural Mountains, and northwards up to southern Scandinavia. They are also found in the Balkans, but not to the South of the Alps (in Italy). There is a separate population in the Scottish highlands (for details see a field guide).

European Crested Tits have a preference for coniferous forests, except for France and Spain, where they are found in decidious woodland.

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

D. Wilczynska reports spotting European Crested Tits in Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, in January 2015.

J. Pires reports finding European Crested Tits occasionally in Portugal, e.g. in the area of Montargil to Mora, Evora, and in Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra. Another was found in Madrid, Spain, in December 2019.

H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting an European Crested Tit near Frielendorf, Osthessen, Germany, in April 2017.

In the past we used to see European Crested Tits occasionally in various parts of Germany, including e.g. the Eifel low mountain range, Rheinland-Pfalz.

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an European Crested Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Near-frontal view of an European Crested Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Madrid, Spain, December 2019]

Near-lateral view of an European Crested Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Lateral view of an upside down European Crested Tit (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa de Albufeira, Sesimbra, Portugal, February 2018]

Dorsal view of an European Crested Tit (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Dorsal view of an European Crested Tit, different posture (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2015]

Pair of European Crested Tits visiting a bird feeder (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, November 2017]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

crestit_dw_20171110_1.m4a	(Poland)	Various	© DW
crestit_dw_20171110_2.m4a	(Poland)	Various (Great Tit in bkgd)	© DW

crestit_jp_20200318.m4a	weigoldi (Portugal)	Various	© JP

More European Crested Tit sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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