Aegithalos caudatus is a bird weighing between 7 and 10 grams, with an extremely charming beauty and a rather unexciting life.
Due to their small size,Aegithalos have trouble maintaining a healthy weight and staying warm in cold temperatures. As a result, in winter they stick close to other species, such as rich tits, and form a common flock. During the day they try not to move too far away in search of food, and at night they sleep in a row and huddle together. Some of the birds in such a row begin to twitch, producing more heat during this time. Such a phenomenon is called shivering thermogenesis.
Also peculiar to this species is the amazing nest and brood reaching up to 12 (record 16) eggs. The nest itself is built in the shape of an ellipse and is usually located at a great height in the fork of the trunk.
On the top, it is woven with moss and plants growing nearby, making it invisible to predators, and inside.... Ladies and gentlemen. Inside, pure velvet. Filled with soft feathers, harvested on the brink of life and death from where Aegithalos pluck their prey....
Brave Aegithalos caudatus. However, such numerous offspring are not easy to feed. It has been observed that older rooslings from the previous brood help their parents. This is also done by individuals that have not established a brood in a given year.
The average lifespan of this little marvel is 2 years....
Information about this species taken from websites:
Ekologia.pl / janadamski.eu