Sombre Tit
A species of Chickadees and allies Scientific name : Poecile lugubris Genus : Chickadees and allies
Sombre Tit, A species of Chickadees and allies
Botanical name: Poecile lugubris
Genus: Chickadees and allies
Content
Description
Description
The sombre tit (Poecile lugubris) is a member of the tit family found in southeast Europe and southwest Asia. Sombre tits occur in low density in thin woodlands at the elevation range between 1000 and 1600 metres above sea level. Similar to the other tit species, the sombre tit is a cavity-nesting species, which makes the nests in the holes in juniper, willow, poplar, and other relevant tree species. In some cases they nest in iron pipes (e.g. the ones used for orchard fencing), and in artificial nest-boxes. The clutch usually consists on 4 to 9 eggs, having two clutches per year. The species appear to be resident in the country with slight local movements. They breed on mountain slopes and in open deciduous forest; lower down on in trees and bushes in rocky terrain, as well as in fruit orchards. The breeding season lasts from early April till end of July - beginning of August. The food mainly consists on insects. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the sombre tit is sister to the white-browed tit (Poecile superciliosus).
Size
15 cm
Feeding Habits
Sombre Tit primarily consumes small invertebrates, seeds, and larvae. It forages in tree canopies or lower vegetation, often storing food. Sombre Tit may feed alone or in groups, displaying behaviors like hammering food with its bill and tearing seedheads akin to finches.
Habitat
The sombre Tit is primarily found in dry maquis environments with a variety of scattered trees and bushes, such as olive groves, orchards of wild plum and other fruit trees, including vineyards. It also resides in parkland zones dominated by open forests of oak, scrub oak, beech, willows, and poplars, as well as areas with coniferous trees like spruce and cedars. These habitats are characterized by rocky limestone hills, mainly around the Mediterranean region.
Dite type
Insectivorous
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Tits Genus
Chickadees and allies Species
Sombre Tit