BLUE TIT 

 Parus c&ruleus 



Blue Tit is one of the most widely distributed residents 

 in our Islands. It is found in almost every suitable 

 locality throughout the length and breadth of the 

 British Islands, including most of the adjacent islands 5 

 to the Orkneys and Shetlands, however, it is only a 

 straggler. 



The Blue Tit is a most engaging little creature; his 



grotesque antics and smart knowing look attract immediate attention ; he is 

 not the least shy, and may be watched from a few paces off as he clings to 

 the end of some twig, pecking the large buds to pieces for the grub which 

 is feeding on the heart. At first sight one would suppose that the Blue Tit 

 did great damage to the fruit-trees in spring. But examine the buds he has 

 dropped on the ground : each one has a hole bored in it by some small insect, 

 and would never have arrived at maturity. He is a most restless, noisy 

 little bird, and is continually calling to his companions as he searches the 

 twigs for food. The Blue Tit visits in its wanderings almost every place where 

 there are shrubs and trees ; orchards, gardens, fir plantations, beech-woods, 

 hedges and birch copses, are all carefully searched. About roosting-time 

 they become very noisy, and generally choose some ivy or yew-tree in which 

 to roost ; in very cold weather they are fond of roosting in holes in haystacks, 

 two or three birds sometimes huddling into the same hole for the sake of 

 warmth. 



The food of the Blue Tit is very varied. It will eat almost anything : 

 all kinds of seeds and grain, fruit of various kinds, especially hard pears 

 and apples ; insects, grubs, and beetles of all kinds, are also greedily devoured, 

 and a bone is quite a treat, judging by the numbers of Tits which this 

 dainty collects. The call-notes of the Blue Tit are loud and penetrating, 



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