Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) Nikon D7200, Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6
f/6.3, 1/500s, ISO 500, 480mm
My favourite small bird. It really is tiny at about 14 cm (5 1/2 in) in length but that includes its tail which is about 60% of the total. It can also weighs as little as 5g (0.18oz) which is the same as a goldcrest, but is usually a little heavier, up to 8g (0.28oz). I have seen fledglings which are truly miniscule.
They tend to live in flocks and I have seen as many as 30 at a time but more commonly around 10-15.
You will almost always hear them before you see them, they make a high pitched pip sound as they keep in touch as they flit through the trees and bushes.
I see them almost everyday on our bird feeders in the garden and they cheer me up no end as they all try to fit on one feeder.
Good to know, I just checked and we can also find them here in Scandinavia, so I'll be keeping my eyes wide open for these cuties ๐
Excellent, you might be able to see the Aegithalos caudatus caudatus sub-species. It has an almost pure white head. I haven't seen one, we get the Europaeus sub-species here.
https://ebird.org/species/lottit1