Sichuan Tit Poecile weigoldicus Scientific name definitions

Taxonomic note: Split. This account was originally published under a single species in HBW Alive, but in Birds of the World it covers multiple species. We present that original content here, with the goal of developing a more refined species account for this taxon moving forward. Please consider contributing your expertise to update this account.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

11–12 cm; 8–15 g. Medium-sized, broad-headed tit with pale panel on closed wing. Nominate race has forehead to side of crown (down to lower edge of eye), nape and uppermost mantle dull blackish; rest of upperparts, including lesser and median upperwing-coverts, pale grey-brown, greater coverts similar but with darker brown centres; alula and flight-feathers dark greyish, primaries finely fringed pale, secondaries broadly fringed pale or whitish-buff (forming prominent panel on closed wing), tertials as secondaries but centres darker or browner; tail greyish-black, outer webs with broad pale buff fringes; lores, cheek and ear-coverts white, creamy buff on sides of nape; chin and throat dull black, forming ill-defined bib (with whitish tips on side of throat and along lower border); underparts off-white or dull whitish-grey, in fresh plumage with pinkish-buff on breast side and flanks; in worn plumage, upperparts paler or greyer, wingpanel occasionally less prominent, bib slightly larger, and underparts whiter except for warm buffish flanks and undertail-coverts; iris brown to dark brown; bill dark blue-black or blackish, paler edges of both mandibles; legs dark greyish-blue. Differs from P. palustris in larger-headed appearance, slightly more extensive dull (not glossy) cap reaching to upper mantle, pale wingpanel, also darker or blackish (not dark brown) centres of greater coverts, remiges and rectrices, slightly larger bib, and more extensively deeper buff on underparts. Sexes alike. Juvenile is similar to adult, but crown duller brown-black, upperparts colder grey-brown, cheeks and ear-coverts pale creamy white or tinged buff, bib slightly paler brown and with white flecks at sides, whiter underparts with buff wash on flanks and undertail-coverts; bill browner than adult, with yellowish cutting edges. Races differ mainly in size, tail length and colour of upperparts and underparts: <em>kleinschmidti</em> is smallest and darkest race, with browner upperparts, creamy-buff cheek to neck side, extensive buff-brown on underparts, flanks olive-brown, bib appears fairly large; rhenanus is similar to previous, but upperparts paler, more drab brown, centre of breast and belly white with pale greyish-buff wash, breast side, flanks and undertail-coverts tinged cinnamon-buff; salicarius is very similar to last, but with slightly duller brown upperparts, creamy-white cheek to neck side, and underparts with buff or greyish-buff wash only on flanks; <em>borealis</em> has blackest crown and nape (may be slightly glossy) of all races, grey upperparts, white cheek to neck side, whitish or pale buff edges of greater coverts (as edges of secondaries and tertials), slightly smaller black bib, white or creamy-white breast centre to vent, with pinkish-buff on flanks and undertail-coverts; uralensis is similar to previous, poorly defined, has paler or greyer upperparts, white edges of secondaries and tertials, mostly whitish underparts, pale pinkish-grey tinge on flanks; baicalensis is very similar to last, but has buffish wash on underparts, slightly longer tail; kamtschatkensis has very pale greyish-white upperparts, broad white edges of greater coverts, secondaries and tertials, outer rectrices broadly edged white, blackish bib slightly larger, underparts mostly white or faintly washed creamy; anadyrensis is poorly differentiated, intermediate between previous two; <em>restrictus</em> is darker than kamtschatkensis, with crown duller and browner, mantle and back grey-brown with sandy tinge, underparts with slightly heavier buffish wash; sachalinensis is similar to last but paler or greyer, most noticeably on underparts; songarus is slightly larger, with longer bill, slightly rounded tail (outermost feather up to 6 mm shorter than others), dark chocolate-brown crown, warmer, more ochre-brown upperparts, wingpanel indistinct, rear ear-coverts and side of neck washed buffish-brown, some brownish on bib, pinkish-cinnamon wash on flanks; <em>stoetzneri</em> is similar to previous, but smaller, somewhat longer-tailed, crown to nape browner, bib darker, upperparts slightly paler, and cinnamon wash on flanks less pinkish; affinis is slightly darker than previous, wingpanel indistinct; <em>weigoldicus</em> is similar to last, but crown more blackish-brown, upperparts slightly darker, flanks tinged browner.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Lowland, submontane and montane forests and woodlands, principally coniferous forests of pine (Pinus), larch (Larix) and spruce (Picea), and in Siberian taiga most frequently in steppe-forest of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica), and often in dense and damp areas, especially Sphagnum bogs and areas of willows (Salix) or alders (Alnus) and on tundra edge. In Europe also occurs in willows, alders and more shrubby vegetation, including elder (Sambucus) patches, edges of woods, copses, and hedges, especially along rivers and beside lakes. In Tien Shan occurs in montane conifer forest, also mixed broadleaf woodland with well-developed undergrowth and willow thickets, and lowland to submontane birch (Betula) forest; also in riverine and swamp thickets, and occasionally in osier (Salix) beds. Occurs from sea-level to tree-line, in Europe up to c. 2000 m, in Altai Mts up to 2300 m, between 800 m and 2400 m in Japan (C Honshu); in China, at 1830–2745m in Tien Shan, at 2200–4275 m in Sichuan (but breeding not confirmed above 2400 m), and present in summer at 3350–4000 m in Qinghai and at 3840 m (in Mar) and 3960 m (in Jul) in Tibet.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Mainly resident; race songarus a short-distance altitudinal migrant, and N populations dispersive and occasionally eruptive; in Europe generally keeps within 5 km of natal area and movements beyond 50 km exceptional, but includes ones up to 167 km in UK and 370 km from Germany to N France. N populations (mostly race borealis) E from Finland sedentary when food available, but regularly disperse randomly, most moving S from late Jul to early winter; in years of poor cone crop movements much larger, and thousands of individuals (mostly juveniles) move S, in Europe reaching Sweden and S Norway (up to 600 km SW of place of ringing) between late Aug and early Nov; borealis irregular visitor to Britain Sept–May; smaller movements in C Europe, when reaches W & NE Hungary. Similar pattern recorded in Siberia, where S populations largely resident and N ones partly migratory; common in wooded steppe from mid-Aug (occasionally late Jul), and birds apparently of race baicalensis occur on passage through middle latitudes and notably around Tomsk in Sept–Oct, with return movement through C Siberia in Apr–May (occasionally early Jun). Large-scale movements usually noticeable along river valleys; generally reluctant to cross large areas of water, may gather in several hundreds in trees at strategic places before attempting to cross.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Mostly invertebrates and larvae  , also vegetable matter. In breeding season includes flies (Diptera), lacewings (Neuroptera), mayflies (Ephemeroptera), caddis flies (Trichoptera), bees and wasps (Hymenoptera), ants (Formicidae), beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), moths (Lepidoptera), scale insects (Coccoidea), centipedes (Chilopoda), spiders (Araneae), harvestmen (Opiliones), mites (Acari), snails (Gastropoda) and earthworms (Oligochaeta). In non-breeding season also grain  , principally wheat (Triticum), oats (Avena), maize (Zea) and barley (Hordeum), also seeds of burdock (Arctium), cowberry, cranberry and bilberry (Vaccinium), bramble and raspberry (Rubus), snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), poppy (Papaver), rose (Rosa), buckthorn (Rhamnus), and various other plants e.g. hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica), also (according to availability and abundance) fruits of oak (Quercus), rowan (Sorbus), ash (Fraxinus), birch, alder (also buds), juniper (Juniperus), lime (Tilia), maple (Acer), spindle (Euonymus), beech (Fagus) and conifer seeds (extracted from cones), also aspen (Populus) and willow catkins, pollen of aspen, and sap of birch, maple and aspen. Diet of adults throughout summer divided almost equally between plant and animal food, but amount of plant food increases to c. 75% in winter; nestling diet similar to that of adults, but initially more larvae, principally caterpillars. Stores food behind loose bark, under branch, in bud capsules or in lichen, rarely in ground in steep bank; in S Norway most food cached in Aug–Oct, and at one study site 94·8% of stored items were eaten during winter months; in NW Russia recorded as storing up to 200 items per day in winter and over 4700 items per day in spring, providing estimated annual total of 460,000 items (sufficient for 2–3 times the energy requirement to survive the winter). Usually in pairs, sometimes solitary; sometimes small groups of up to six (in N populations usually adult pair with unrelated juveniles), which form in late summer and disperse in spring; within groups, social structure complex, with dominance hierarchy of males over females and adults over juveniles, social rank affecting access to food and foraging areas (lower-ranking individuals forced to feed in less optimal sites); group frequently becomes basis for mixed-species flocks with addition of conspecifics, nuthatches (Sittidae), Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) and Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), but usually only where these coincide within territory. Actively forages in middle to lower levels of trees and shrub layer; investigates branches (including undersides), thin twigs and conifer and larch needles, hangs from vegetation and climbs vertical trunks by fluttering, occasionally hovers or pursues insects in flight; may search in ground cover, e.g. brambles (Rubus), bracken (Pteridium), thistles (Cirsium) or hemp-nettles (Galeopsis), but rarely descends to ground. Most food items collected from vegetation, and rarely (much less than P. palustris) picks or hammers vegetation to extract concealed prey; occasionally holds berries and seedheads of plants under foot and removes seeds. Infrequently visits birdtables . In studies in S England, individuals made up to 1100 foraging visits daily to trees, and during mid-winter estimated to require an average-sized insect every 2·5 seconds in order to maintain condition.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Generally less vocal than P. palustris, and with fairly restricted vocal repertoire. Contact call  2–4 short high-pitched “zi-zi” or “tsi-tsi” notes followed by longer series of more nasal  “tchaa tchaa tchaa” or “tchay tchay tchay”, and harsh or scolding notes which may also be given as rolling “tchurrrrr”; same notes but at higher pitch, louder and with faster delivery given in alarm; high-pitched “pi” followed by lower “pa” during aggressive encounters; also shorter high “zi”, “sit” or “zit” contact notes when foraging in family group, occasionally extended into “zisit” or “zisisit” and thin, drawn-out and downslurred “dzee”, “zieh” or “ziet”; other alarm notes include harsh “pett” or “kett” several times in succession, and “chik-ik-ik-ik” like that of a sparrow (Passer), and during courtship a soft descending “didededa” by female and rapid “zi-zi-zi-zi” by male; call of race songarus slightly harsher, variable, “psit-zer” or “psit dzee dzee” repeated, also nasal “chiur” and sharp “chit”; affinis also gives a series of “sip-sip-sip…” calls, also a more slurred “tsiur-dzeer-dzeer” and a short, chattering series of “chip-ip-ip-ip” notes; calls of stoetzneri similar those of affinis but variable, with disyllabic “ps-zur ps-zur” or longer “tsi-stip-dzah” or “tchip-dzee-dzee” and “dzeeh-dzeeh-dzee”. Song , mostly in early to middle morning throughout year (most frequent in late winter and early spring, and again in late summer), varies considerably between lowland and montane populations, throughout lowland Europe mostly 3–5 downwardly inflected and drawn-out piping “piu piu piu” or “duu duu duu” notes, reminiscent of introductory notes of Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) song; in C Europe (Alps E to N Croatia, also Tatra Mts of Poland-Slovakia), song of alpine populations (mostly nominate race) up to 7 or occasionally 10 soft and monosyllabic or evenly pitched notes as “duh duh duh duh” or with softer “ü ü ü ü”, occasionally as higher-pitched “pe-pe pe-pe pe-pe pee pee pee”, given in late winter and spring only, and individuals in hilly and submontane areas may give modified or intermediate-type song with slight decline in pitch; in overlap areas at 1000–1550 m, both song types can occur together. In Fennoscandia and E Europe to E Asia song mostly of modified type, with phrases of lowland and montane songs either constant or slightly falling in pitch; in Japan appears to be of two types, in N similar to that of montane areas of C Europe, but in S two or three ringing whistles repeated several times, e.g. “pee-si pee-si pee-si pee-si pee”. Also has weak series of musical, warbling and chattering notes as subsong; also an infrequently heard (apparently mostly in Britain) series of rich warbling notes, similar to several notes of Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), mixed with softer notes, given in short snatches and not far-carrying. Singing by female infrequent.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Season Apr–Jul; one brood. Monogamous; lifelong pair-bond. Territorial; partners remain together within or close to territory (within larger foraging territory) throughout year. Display includes singing and chasing by male, and bowing and wing-shivering by both sexes; male courtship-feeds female both at nest and away from it, and this usually accompanied by begging calls by female and rapid trilling by male. Nest built by female, mostly of bark or wood strips, grass, plant fibres, animal hair and feathers (rarely, moss included), placed in hole  or crevice up to 3 m (often less than 1 m, exceptionally to 10 m) from ground in rotting tree trunk or old stump; hole excavated by both sexes, or may adapt existing one, e.g. woodpecker (Picidae) hole, or sometimes drey of squirrel (Sciuridae) used; rarely, nestbox used; territory size varies according to habitat, 5–15 ha. Clutch 5–9 eggs; incubation by female, sometimes starting before clutch complete, incubation period 13–15 days; chicks fed by both sexes, nestling period 17–20 days; young dependent on adults for further 12–15 days, dispersing after 20 days. Longevity 8 years 11 months.

Willow Tit (Poecile montanus)

Not globally threatened. Common in N parts of range, and the commonest tit in Siberia (abundant along R Yenisey) and Mongolia (but population largely dependent on seed crop from Siberian stone pine); locally very common in C China; common in S Japan but uncommon in N (Hokkaido ); breeds locally in N Korea, rare non-breeding visitor S Korea; in Europe, locally common in W but becomes less frequent or scarce in S. Estimated European breeding population 5,000,000–6,000,000 pairs, with largest numbers in Scandinavia and Russia. Breeding densities highest in Siberia, where 30–50 birds/km² in dark conifer taiga and pine, rising to 119–142 birds along R Chuna, and 20–30 birds in mixed forest and 6–7 birds in lowland floodplain-forest and meadows. Has extended range in N & C Europe, and since mid-1950s has colonized Harz Mts (Germany) and Bohemia and Moravia (Czech Republic); since 1960s has bred in Hungary, first bred N Greece in 1973 and since 1977 has bred N Denmark.

In contrast, the species began to decline in Britain during the 1960s and this has accelerated so that its abundance fell by 79% during 1995–2010 and its range there has contracted by 50%, so that it is now concentrated within a crescent extending from northeast England through the midlands into Wales; it has largely disappeared from southeast England (3 Balmer, D.E., Gillings, S., Caffrey, B.J., Swann, R.L., Downie, I.S. and Fuller, R.J. (2013). Bird Atlas 285857–11: The Breeding and Wintering Birds of Britain and Ireland. BTO Books, Thetford. Close ). Habitat loss and degradation are implicated in the decline and there is also recent evidence that increased competition from other parids, which evict Willow Tits from nestholes, and increased nest predation by Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos major are also important factors, exacerbated by the low dispersability of the Willow Tit that makes recolonisation difficult after local extinction (4 Rustell, A. (2015). The effects of avian nest predation and competition on the Willow Tit in Britain. British Birds. 108(1): 37–41. Close ).