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Willow Tit


Willow Tit
Photo Information
Copyright: Arunas Eismantas (Aukstaitis) Silver Note Writer [C: 0 W: 0 N: 161] (846)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/400 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-13 14:30
Viewed: 589
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Willow Tit (Poecile montana) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and northern Asia. It is more of a conifer specialist than the closely related Marsh Tit, which explains it breeding much further north. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate.

In the east of its range it is much paler than Marsh Tit, but as one goes west the various races become increasingly similar, so much so that it was not recognised as a breeding bird in Great Britain until the end of the 19th century, despite being widespread, and replacing the other species completely in Scotland.

The Willow Tit is distinguished from the Marsh Tit by a sooty brown instead of a glossy blue black cap; the general colour is otherwise similar, though the under parts are more buff and the flanks distinctly more rufous; the pale buff edgings to the secondaries form a light patch on the closed wing. The feathers of the crown and the black bib under the bill are longer, but this is not an easily noticed character. However, the more graduated tail (not square) shows distinctly when spread. Length is 11.5 cm, and wings range from 60-70 mm.

The commonest call is a nasal zee, zee, zee, but the notes of the bird evidently vary considerably. Occasionally a double note, ipsee, ipsee, is repeated four or five times.

The Willow Tit often excavates its own nesting hole, even piercing hard bark; this is usually in a rotten stump or in a tree, more or less decayed. Most nests examined are cups of felted material, such as fur, hair and wood chips, but feathers are sometimes used. The number of eggs varies from six to nine, with reddish spots or blotches.
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • shal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 287 W: 71 N: 499] (2086)
  • [2007-02-13 15:10]

Hi Arunas,
lovely shot of this Poecile montana
good details, pose and composition,
Cheers :D

  • Great 
  • methos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 216 W: 56 N: 287] (1167)
  • [2007-02-13 15:26]

Nice shot of a nice bird.
Love the composition and the colors. Good details. I like the sharpness of this pic.
Good eye contact!
Congrats and TFS!

Hi Arunas.

Very good tones and crop, excellent patient to wait for him. Very well done. tfs. STEV

Hi Arunas

Another excellent shot of this beautiful wee bird. Nicely composed with the green of the foliage and brown of the cones adding a nice contrast in colour. :-)

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