Long-tailed tit / Schwanzmeise (Aegithalos caudatus)

Herzige Schwanzmeise. 2025-01-10 14:59:26 Fehraltorf

Observations

First documented observation: 2020-04-13 at the Luppmen. Most recent observation: 2026-03-23 in Bolle di Magadino.

Description

Classification: Genus Aegithalos (Aegithalos); Family Long-tailed tits (Aegithalidae)
General: Quite surprised to identify this bird at the Hungerseeli, but have since realized they can be found here in the woods and in the reeds. They're small birds that look bigger because they fluff up their feathers and have a very long tail, which is just what I saw when I first sighted a pair June 3, 2020 at the Hungerseeli.
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast
Appearance and identification: The subspecies europaeus occurs in Switzerland; it has a broad dark stripe over each eye, whereas the nominate caudatus has a pure white head. 'The long-tailed tit was first classified as a true tit of the Parus group. Parus has since been split from the Aegithalidae.' [Link]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 03-23 - 06-29
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=14 cm, wingspan=16-19 cm, weight=7-10 g
Habitats: Forest

Vocalisation

Song: General: Meistens hört man das Pfief...chk..chk..Pfief von den Rufen, siehe dort.
Song: Nabu: Der Gesang ist ein feines Trillern und selten zu hören (someone at XenoCanto compares it to a blue tit trill). [Link]
Song: Song: high tsee-tsee; funny downhill trill
Song: Song: Rapid, continuous, randomly composed sequence of bubbling,chirping sounds. [Link] Song attributes: Mnemnoic: Diddly doot-doot-doot-doot Melody: stereotype melodic (hhmll), slow, Frequency: high (3-9 KHz)
XC572437 - Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus - song. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC572437 - Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus - song.mp3 (song)


Calls: Call: quite short, chirping, twittering "tzzirrret tzirrrret". Often starting at high pitch and rapidly falling, or just flat. Also a thin, slightly falling "zi zi ziii". [Link] 1: Die fast ständig geäusserten, hohen Rufe verraten die kleinen, rastlosen Turner im Gezweig meist schon, bevor sie zu sehen sind. [Link]
Flight call from XenoCanto

Flight call from XenoCanto ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC517804 Long-tailed tit flight call.mp3 (flight call)


2: A swoop with a trill at the end

♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC871720 - Long-tailed Tit call with swoop and trill - Aegithalos caudatus.mp3 (call)


Call attributes: contact call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: 7-9 KHz,