The Muscovy tit, also known as the black tit, is a fairly well-known representative of the tit family.

Appearance

Moskovka by appearance resembles a great tit, but is smaller in size and has paler body plumage.

Like the great tit, the Muscovy has a black head with white cheeks. It turns out to be a kind of cap or mask.

Actually, according to researchers, this characteristic gave the name to the tit – “maskovka”, which was later changed to “muscovite”. So to Russian capital The black tit has no relation.

Like the blue tit and the great tit, the blue tit produces a sonorous trill of two or three syllables. Singing continues from May to September.

Habitat

Muscovites are widespread in the Eastern Hemisphere, including Eurasia, and live mainly in coniferous forests. But outside the breeding season, these tits often fly out of the forests to other places, including cities, where they live in parks and gardens.

The black tit is usually a sedentary species, but if there is not enough food, it resorts to migration: with the onset of cold weather, the flock moves to a new place, where some of the birds settle, while the other part returns back when favorable conditions arise there.

Lifestyle

During the mating season, Muscovites live in pairs, and the rest of the time they gather in flocks. They are most often small, up to 50 individuals; however, in Siberia there were groups of black tits of several hundred and even thousands of individuals. Apparently, in large flocks it is more convenient to endure the unfavorable conditions of cold regions.

Like some other representatives of passerines, Muscovites like to create mixed flocks together with other closely related species of tits and other birds, including:

• Common pika;
• Yellow-headed kinglet;
• Warbler;
• Tufted and rufous-necked tits.

Nutrition

The diet of Muscovy women depends on the season. During the breeding season, this is mainly animal food - insects, spiders, caterpillars. In autumn and winter, birds switch to plant foods, mainly seeds of coniferous trees and juniper berries.

Muscovy tit having lunch photo

If this food is not enough, Muscovites migrate to places atypical for them - mixed and deciduous forests, steppes, where they feed on local vegetation, berries and seeds. In winter, Muscovites also fly to cities, where they feed on nuts, seeds, cream and other food left by humans in feeders, or look for “pasture.”

Taxonomy

Some researchers believe that the Muscovy is closer to chickadees than to other tits, and propose to combine these taxa.

Nesting

The Muscovy makes its nest in a hollow left by another bird - a woodpecker, a chickadee, etc., as well as in a mouse hole or a rock crevice with a narrow entrance. The nest consists of moss, horsehair, wool, feathers and cobwebs, so it is quite warm.

Let's continue to get acquainted with tits and today the Muscovite is next.

First, a little biology

Coal tit or black tit (lat. Parus ater) - A small bird, much smaller than a sparrow, modestly colored. Body length 10–12 cm, weight 7–12 g. Male and female are similarly colored. The top is bluish-gray with a slight olive tint, the underparts are white, the sides and undertail are brownish-buff. The top of the head from the forehead to the back of the head, as well as the sides of the head, are black with a bluish metallic sheen. On the back of the neck there is a large white spot that is a distinctive feature of the species.

From the eye line and ear coverts to the throat and top of the chest there is a large white field - the “cheek”. In the Muscovy it is not as regular in shape as, for example, in the great tit; its clear outline, limited by the black plumage of the throat and sides of the head, is interrupted in the area of ​​the wing fold. Here, under the fold of the wing, on the sides of the chest there are small blurry black spots. The tail and wing are slightly darker and more brownish than the back. The eye and beak are black, the paws are bluish-gray. The female is slightly more dull in color. Her upper body is more olive, her cap is more matte, almost without shine, her throat and chest have a brownish tint.

Inhabits coniferous and mixed forests of Eurasia and North Africa. The populations of the central zone and the Caucasus are sedentary, the northern populations make regular, sometimes quite massive winter migrations to the south. It is quite common in the corresponding biotopes, but due to its habit of feeding in the uppermost tier of crowns and its relatively quiet voice, the Muscovy is not as noticeable as other tits. One of the common wintering birds in city parks and squares. When searching for food, the bird is very mobile, can easily climb vertical trunks, and sometimes feeds on the ground. Frequently visits feeders. It stores food for the winter from June to December, mainly seeds of conifers, less often invertebrates. The Muscovite lives in flocks almost all the time, breaking up into pairs only during the mating season. Flocks typically number up to 50 individuals, and will often include birds of other species such as the common pika, tufted tit, warbler, etc.

During the mating season, the basis of the Muscovy's diet consists of various insects and their larvae. These can be bark beetles and weevils, dragonflies, butterflies, aphids, flies, grasshoppers and crickets, ants, caddis flies and other types of insects. In the autumn-winter period, the diet changes greatly. At this time, the Muscovy feeds mainly on the seeds of various coniferous plants.

The Muscovite mating season begins at the end of March and lasts until the end of June. In the north of the habitat, the beginning of the breeding season may be slightly delayed. During this period, Muscovites form stable monogamous pairs that last for a long time. The male begins mating games by sitting on a branch and singing a song, shaking his wings. These birds make nests in hollows abandoned by brown-headed chickadees, various woodpeckers and other bird species. Often the nest is located in cracks in rocks, burrows of small rodents, or even in a rotten stump. The Muscovite builds a cup-shaped nest from moss and horsehair. The bottom is lined with feathers, wool and even cobwebs. The male does not take part in the construction of the nest. In most of the range, the birds lay two clutches per season. The first clutch takes place from late April to early May, and the second in June. The only exceptions are the island of Corsica and northern Africa, where the Muscovy lays only one clutch per season. In the first clutch there are an average of 9 eggs (from 5 to 13), in the second there are fewer, only 6 - 9 pieces. The shell of black tit eggs is white and covered with brownish speckles. The incubation period lasts approximately two weeks. Only the female incubates the eggs, while the male is busy getting food for her.

After the chicks are born, the female remains with them in the nest for several more days, after which she flies out with the male in search of food for herself and the chicks. Feeding the chicks lasts 18–22 days, both parents feed. Unlike most tits, young birds that have just flown out of the nest behave cautiously and do not leave the nesting tree for the first few days. After about 3 weeks, the chicks begin to leave the parent's nest. On average, the life expectancy of Muscovy is up to 9 years, although sometimes older individuals are found.

Interesting Facts:

– Because of its peculiar black cap on its head, more like a mask, it got its name “maskovka”. Later, this nickname was transformed into “Moskovka”, so it has nothing to do with the Mother See.

– Both males and females sing among Muscovites.

– These tits are the only ones from their family who do not feel any particular discomfort from living in a cage.

– The Muscovite heart beats about 1200 times per minute,

– Siberian titmice sometimes form gatherings of up to 1000 individuals

– The clear attraction of Muscovy to spruce is clearly evident throughout its vast range from the mountain forests of Southeast Asia to the western coasts of Europe and the Atlas Mountains in Africa.

– Since the place of primary origin of the group of green tits was Southeast Asia, this directly indicates that the Muscovy and great tits have common and close ancestors. These connections have been preserved so clearly that both species (great tit and Muscovy) have the same types of songs in their repertoire. The structure of the songs themselves is similar, and the laws of their development are identical.

– The vocal repertoire of Muscovite women is very rich. Each bird may have 7-11 distinctly different song types. There are cases when, after several years of life in captivity, Muscovites delighted their owner with a new or even several new songs.

– At the end of summer and autumn, Muscovites often store food for future use. Among the reserves, spruce and pine seeds often predominate, but there are also reserves of animal feed.

– The male takes care of the female in a very interesting way during the mating season: he often defiantly shakes his wings and at the same time makes melodious short trills. He also smoothly hovers in the air in front of the female, spreading the feathers of his wings and tail.

– Canary breeders also sometimes use the Muscovy as a canary teacher.

– Also MOSKOVKA – Moscow denga, a silver coin minted in Moscow. In the 15th – early 16th centuries it was equal to half of the “Novgorod” (Novgorod money), according to the reform of 1534 it was half a kopeck.

– Depending on the coloring characteristics, the severity of the crest and the size, more than 20 subspecies of the Muscovy are distinguished, which practically do not differ from each other.

– The Muscovy has an excellent memory and can remember the places where it previously found food in order to return to it.

– Muscovites prefer to sing while sitting on the top of a tree with good review around.

– Usually the Muscovy in the mountains does not rise above 1800 m above sea level, although in the Atlas Mountains it is recorded at an altitude of up to 2500 m, and in the Himalayas in southwest China up to 4570 m.

– In the middle of the 18th century, Carl Leinaeus included this bird in the general biological classifier under the Latin, systematic name Parus ater. In the twentieth century, biologists clarified its generic name and now it is called Periparus ater. However, both names are used interchangeably.

– Occasionally, when in a particularly excited state, the bird can raise the plumage of its cap in the form of a tiny crest.

Well, as usual, for those who are too lazy to read

One of the smallest birds of the tit family is the Muscovite. Initially, the bird was called “mask” because of the peculiar black cap on its head, but over time the name was slightly transformed.

Muscovy or black tit.
Moskovka thought on the branch.
Moscow tit.

Geography of residence

Muscovites live throughout Eurasia and northwestern African Tunisia. For their habitat, birds prefer coniferous forests, and especially spruce forests. They can also be found in mixed forests where pine, birch or larch trees grow, and in Africa they live in cedar forests and juniper plantings. As a rule, Muscovites do not settle above 2000 m above sea level, although in southwest China they can be found at an altitude of about 4500 meters.

Usually Muscovites lead a sedentary lifestyle, but if the winter becomes too harsh or there is a catastrophic shortage of food, the birds can move en masse to new areas; over time, some of the birds may return back, while the rest remain in a new place.

Appearance

There are more than 20 subspecies of Muscovy tits; looking at a photo of a bird, it is very difficult to say which subspecies it belongs to. This is due to the fact that the same traits can overlap in different subspecies.

The body length of the Muscovy does not exceed 11.5 cm, and the weight varies from 7 to 12 grams. The back of the head and head of the bird are black, and the color of the feathers on the cheeks is dirty white; on the throat there is a large black spot in the shape of a bib. The feathers of the wings and tail are brown-gray, the beak and eyes are black, and the paws are gray-blue. There is practically no sexual dimorphism; the only difference is that the color of the plumage in females is more faded compared to males.

Nutrition and behavior

In cold seasons, the basis of bird nutrition is the seeds of plants and coniferous trees:

• pine,
• sequoia,
• cypress,
• sycamore,
• juniper berries.

During the breeding season, Muscovites become real predators; during this period, their diet includes various insects:

• butterflies,
• dragonflies,
• beetles,
• ants,
• flies,
• grasshoppers.

Usually, Muscovites live in flocks, and can join flocks of other birds, plump grenadiers, and kinglets. Muscovites take care of their food on cold winter days; to do this, they hide seeds and small insects in the crevices of tree bark.

A photo of a Muscovy tit, which is not particularly beautiful, is unlikely to attract Special attention, which cannot be said about her voice. Its trills are very melodic and sonorous, similar to the songs of the great tit and blue tit.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity in birds occurs at one year of age. Muscovites build monogamous couples, remaining faithful to their partner until death. They build their nests in old tree hollows, half-rotten stumps, sometimes in small rock crevices or in abandoned burrows of small rodents. The female is responsible for the construction of the nest; the inside of the nest is paved with moss, horsehair, feathers and cobwebs.

Typically, during a season, the female makes two clutches with an average of 5-11 white eggs with red-brown spots. After 15-16 days, the chicks are born, and for 18-20 days both parents will be equally responsible for their feeding. After the chicks grow up and begin to fly, and this happens after 20-22 days, they remain with their parents for several more days. At the end of summer, young and old birds unite in flocks.

• the Muscovite heart beats about 1200 times per minute,
• The average lifespan of these birds is 9 years,
• Muscovites can be kept at home in a cage, having become accustomed to a person, after 2 weeks they will happily peck grains from a person’s hand.

More types of tits.

Muscovy tit - The Muscovy tit bird is considered the smallest tit, its weight is only 9 g. Its back is bluish-gray, its head is black with white cheeks, white spots are clearly visible on its wings, and there is a large black spot on its throat. The abdomen is bluish-gray with a brownish coating.

Moscow tit – description of the bird, photos and videos

The distribution zone of the Muscovy bird is the forests of Europe, Asia and the mountain forests of North-West Africa. Leads a sedentary lifestyle only in warm habitats, and in northern, colder habitats, it migrant.

Muscovy lives in coniferous (spruce) forests. It makes nests in abandoned woodpecker hollows, or in naturally formed hollows in old trees. Sometimes it inhabits titmouses with a narrow round entrance.

During the season, the female Muscovy lays eggs twice. The first clutch contains 8-11 eggs, and the second clutch contains 7-9 eggs. Muscovy eggs are white with red-brown speckles.

The female incubates the eggs for about two weeks, and the male feeds her during this time. He brings her food about 2-3 times per hour. Both parents are involved in feeding and raising the chicks. They continue to feed the chicks that have grown up and left the nest for about another week.

Muscovites feed mainly on coniferous trees. They remove seeds from under the scales of cones, hanging from them. They also feed on eggs and larvae of insects, spiders, looking for them on spruce trees.

Often, at the end of summer and autumn, the Muscovy tit stores food for future use, hiding spruce seeds and captured insects in the forks of branches and in crevices of the bark. In winter and early spring, when there is not enough food, Muscovites look for their pantries and eat the stored supplies.

These birds are considered useful for the forest: most of the food they eat is pests of coniferous trees (spruce and pine). Since these birds always have enough food, they feel great and their numbers are constantly growing.

There are very cold winters, down to minus 40 degrees, then the Muscovy tits die in the forests from frost, and the bravest ones, who were able to overcome the distance and fly closer to people, tolerate the cold quite calmly, returning in the spring again to their favorite places - to coniferous and pine forests.

Moscow tit video

Due to the black cap on its head and white cheeks, the Muscovy tit is similar to the Great Tit, but differs significantly from it in its smaller size. In addition, the Muscovy has a more dense build, and the color of the feathers of the chest and sides does not have a bright yellow tint.

Many scientists believe that the characteristic cap of black feathers became the basis for the original Russian name for this bird - “maskovka”, with the emphasis on the first syllable. Later, the pronunciation of the word changed and shifted to the second syllable, acquiring a “metropolitan” sound. However, the black tit has nothing to do with Moscow, although based on the new name “Moskovka” one might think that this bird mainly lives in the capital of Russia. On the contrary, the Muscovy tit avoids close proximity to human habitation.

In appearance, behavioral characteristics and singing, the Muscovy tit is similar to the great tit and blue tit.

This bird is found in forested regions throughout Eurasia from the British Isles to Japan. It can also be found in northwest Africa. The northern border of the Muscovy tit's distribution range runs along the 67th parallel of northern latitude in Scandinavia, and in Siberia it extends south to the 62nd parallel. In the south, the habitats of this bird are limited to steppe and desert regions.

The Muscovy lives mainly in coniferous forests, and is less common in mixed forests. She prefers quiet places, remote from human settlements and highways: dense forests, wooded mountain slopes.

Description of the Muscovy tit

The Muscovy is a small, dense and rounded breed with a short tail. Its body length is approximately 10–11.5 cm, and its weight is 7.2–12 g. The feathers on the head and back of the head are black, and on the cheeks they are off-white. In the upper part of the chest there is a shirtfront in the form of a black spot. The feathers on the head of the titmouse can be elongated in the form of a tuft; this feature is more pronounced in the southern subspecies.

The Muscovy tit is a sedentary species. Only a harsh and hungry winter can force these birds to look for food outside their permanent habitats.

The back of the black tit is bluish-gray with a brownish tint. The sides and belly are dirty white, and the tail and wings are brownish-gray. There are two light stripes on the wings. The characteristic distinguishing features of this species are the black mask on the head, which gave this bird Russian name, and a small light spot on the back of the head. Depending on the severity of the crest and coloring characteristics, more than 20 subspecies of the Muscovy tit are distinguished.