Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus Scientific name definitions

11·5–12 cm; 9·7–15·8 g. Small to medium-sized, crested tit with black-and-white face pattern . Male nominate race has forehead to crown and short spiky crest black with broad white feather fringes (creating scaled appearance), fringes narrower on base of crest (crest shorter and fringes absent in worn plumage); narrow vertical black line on nape connecting with blackish collar on upper edge of mantle; upperparts mostly cold grey-brown, slightly warmer on uppertail-coverts and paler or greyer on upperwing-coverts; alula and flight-feathers dark grey to blackish, primaries finely edged grey; tail brownish-grey, finely fringed grey-brown, outer web of outermost feather edged white; supercilium (flaring behind eye to include side of hindcrown), cheek, ear-coverts and neck side white, sometimes lightly washed buff, black eyestripe (indistinct in front of eye and not reaching base of bill) and rear edge of ear-coverts; chin, throat and centre of upper breast black, this narrowing at side to join with black line along upper mantle; rest of underparts mostly white, light buffish-grey on breast side, flanks and undertail-coverts; iris variably pale brown to deep red; bill black; legs olive-grey to bluish-grey. Female is very like male (and sexes not separable in the field), but has, on average, shorter crest, narrower stripes on head side, more buffish (less white) feather fringes on crown and crest, and more buff on flanks. Juvenile is very similar to adult, but has browner crown and shorter crest with more rounded tips, side of head washed buffish, eyestripe and rear edge of ear-coverts browner and less well defined, upperparts duller, bib browner with some whitish feather tips and not connected laterally to side of upper mantle. Racial variation slight: baschkirikus is very similar to nominate but paler and greyer, and faintly creamy (not buff) on flanks; bureschi is very like both nominate and previous, but has slightly duller and darker upperparts, yellowish flanks; mitratus differs from nominate in having upperparts cinnamon-brown (browner and greyer individuals also occur), rump and uppertail-coverts warmer brown with pinkish tinge, edges of wing-coverts and tail feathers cinnamon-brown, edges of flight-feathers grey-brown, off-white below, belly washed buffish, rest of underparts washed brownish-cinnamon; scoticus is similar to previous, but with dull fringes on forehead and crown, slightly duller or darker brown (not cinnamon) upperparts, also duller below, flanks and undertail-coverts washed browner; weigoldi resembles last, but pale fringes on head top broader and whiter (creamy on female), upperparts paler or greyer and less olive, underparts somewhat whiter; abadiei differs from last in having feather tips of forehead and crown washed buffish, cheek washed buffish, upperparts rich brown with rufous tinge, rump brighter orange-cinnamon, underparts strongly washed buff, flanks brighter cinnamon.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

In N Europe occurs in stands of pine (Pinus) and spruce (Picea), mainly Norway spruce (Picea abies), also often in conifers in mixed woodland; in Scotland apparently confined to stands of old (more than 20 years) Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) with some deciduous trees, principally birch (Betula) and alder (Alnus); in Belgium favours mature tall spruces and old pines, avoided by other parids. In C, S & SW Europe found in wider variety of habitats, including open woodland with well-developed ground layer or shrubs and with good numbers of decaying trees and stumps (for nest-sites); in beech (Fagus) forest in Pyrenees, and in cork oak (Quercus suber) in S Iberia. In W Russia mostly in spruce and pine forests, avoiding broadleaf and mixed forests. In SE Europe favours high-altitude conifer forests, mostly of Norway spruce, also Greek fir (Abies cephalonica) and black pine (Pinus nigra). In non-breeding season may make short-distance movements to forage in areas of shrubby juniper (Juniperus) or heather (Erica, Calluna); locally, also in parks and orchards, and visits gardens . Occurs up to tree-line, to 615 m in Scotland; largely montane in S Europe, to 1800 m in Austria and at 1000–2300 m in Balkans and N Greece.

Food mostly small invertebrates and their larvae , and in non-breeding season seeds and some fruits. Invertebrate diet includes damselflies and small dragonflies (Odonata), stoneflies (Plecoptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), bugs (Hemiptera) including aphids (Aphidoidea), lacewings (Neuroptera), grasshoppers (Orthoptera), moths (Lepidoptera), flies (Diptera), caddis flies (Trichoptera), small bees, wasps and ants (Hymenoptera), beetles (Coleoptera), spiders (Araneae), earthworms (Oligochaeta) and snails (Gastropoda); usually heavily supplemented, principally in non-breeding season, by seeds of spruce, pine, fir and douglas fir (Pseudotsuga), juniper, cypress (Chamaecyparis), beech, birch, aspen (Populus), rose (Rosa) and buckthorn (Rhamnus), berries of hawthorn (Crataegus), rowan (Sorbus) and dogwood (Cornus), and sap of birch, aspen and maple (Acer). Nestling diet principally spiders, but also some pine seeds. Stores food, mostly conifer seeds, larval lepidopterans and spiders, throughout year in holes and crevices in bark of tree trunks, also in clumps of lichens on branches (rarely on ground), items wedged in place or covered with saliva or gossamer, insects usually partly decapitated or otherwise paralysed and often stored while still alive; caches insect larvae chiefly in autumn, as food supply for winter; stores not relocated by memory but apparently sited in areas where individual likely to be foraging; caches often exploited by several individuals in winter social group. Usually solitary or in pairs; where densities fairly high, occurs in non-breeding season in small groups of up to six (exceptionally, twelve or slightly more), usually comprising one or more mated pairs and several, probably unrelated juveniles; also joins mixed-species foraging flocks with other tits, especially Poecile montanus, and Eurasian Treecreepers (Certhia familiaris) and Goldcrests (Regulus regulus). In Scotland, where density lowest, usually solitary in non-breeding season but may join roving bands of tits or other small insectivores as they pass through its territory. Active, agile and restless, occasionally inquisitive. Forages mostly in upper and canopy levels of conifers  during summer; at other times descends to lower levels to feed in lower branches of saplings, in undergrowth and on ground, where forages for fallen seeds or insects, and in N of range feeds on ground beneath well-established clumps of heather during winter snow periods; often follows squirrels (Sciuridae) feeding on cones, and collects spilled seeds. Occasionally visits birdtables in areas close to breeding sites. Searches foliage and lichen clumps; clings to branches, and extracts seeds from cones while hanging upside-down from slender twigs or occasionally while hovering; also extracts grubs from behind bark or in dead wood.

Most frequent call  a thin, rising “zee-zee-zee-cheera-cheera” followed by low, tremulous purring “brrrrrr, t-brrrrrr…”, introductory notes variable, sometimes “zizizi”, “sizi-za, sizi-za, sizi-za” or a lighter “si-si-si-sisisisisi” declining towards end; also a thin “see”, singly or in series, and squeaky “sith, sith, silililili”. Song  a longer and louder version of the “tsee-tsee-tsee burrurrlt, burrurrlt” notes, variably introduced with high-pitched “seeh-i-i” notes, and rapidly and frequently repeated.

Season Mar–Jun; one brood, in S occasionally two. Monogamous, with lifelong pair-bond; in Russian study, estimated c. 90% of pairs formed by first-time breeders and widowed adults, and most pairs formed from within winter social group. Territory maintained and defended throughout year. Display includes courtship-feeding of female by male. Nest built by female, a cup of moss, lichens, animal hair, wool, feathers and gossamer, placed mostly within 3 m (exceptionally 13 m) of ground in hole in dead or decaying tree trunk, branch or stump, occasionally in living tree, old hole of woodpecker (Picidae), disused crow (Corvidae) or raptor nest or squirrel drey, sometimes in hole in fence post or in ground; nest-hole excavated or enlarged by pair, principally by female; nestboxes also regularly used; territory size not well known, but home range (most of which is territory) 6–11 ha in most of Europe, although in Scotland (where population sparse) extent of territorial defence indicates that territory apparently poorly defined. Clutch 5–11 eggs, smallest clutches in N of range; incubation by female, period 13–18 days; chicks fed by both parents, nestling period 16–22 days; young dependent on adults for up to further 23–25 days. Breeding success variable, average number of young fledged per brood 4·7 in Finland to 5·9 in S Germany, success rate generally lower for natural holes (reason unknown); main nest predator Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), and in study in Pskov area (NW Russia) predation of nest-sites by woodpeckers 39–60% and average success 3·27 young per pair. Breeds in first year. Maximum recorded longevity (from ringing data) 7 years 7 months; annual adult mortality in Russian study 73%.