Coal Tit

Parus ater (Linnaeus, 1758)

2015-11-16 Kemerovo	© Nina Shteinbrenner

Biology

Common resident, in places rare winter visitor. Inhabits mountain coniferous (spruce, fir, larch, pine), mixed or birch-willow forests at altitudes up to 1500-1800 m in Altai, or 2500-2700 m in Tien Shan. On dispersal and wintering rare occurs in deciduous forests on plains and in foothills. Pairs are formed in autumn – winter. Breeds in separate pairs at distance 70-80 m from each other. Nest is located in tree-hole (up to 20 m above ground), in ground cavity between stones, tree roots or in cavities of human constructions; for one-two weeks nest is built by female from moss and is lined with plenty of hair. Willing to use nest-boxes. Clutch of 6-9 eggs is laid in early May – end June. For 13-15 days mainly female incubates clutch, male sometimes helps her. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge at age 19-20 days old, in early June – end August. Re-nesting after loss of first clutch is common. On autumn – winter dispersal occurs singly, in pairs or in small groups from end of September until mid March.

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