Family: Aegithalidae
An adult long-tailed tit.
The long-tailed tit is a passerine bird in the Aegithalidae family, and its only representative in most of Europe. It’s a small bird with a very long tail—from beak to tail, it’s about 14cm in length, of which between 7cm and 9cm come from the tail alone.
Adults’ head and underside are white with a rosy tint, with a wide, black strip above each eye, resembling an eyebrow. The back, wings and tail are dark, with a white-and-pink spot on each side. There’s a thin yellow line right above the eye, and the beak is short and curved.
It’s extant and common throughout the whole year across most of the Iberian Peninsula. It prefers dense forests, avoiding dry climates with few trees. Across the world, it’s present from the Iberian Peninsula to the easternmost end of Asia, barring regions too far north.
Long-tailed tits seldom move alone, instead choosing to stay close to their family. They constantly emit their call (tsii-tsii-tsii) to communicate. They’re very active, curious and acrobatic, not fearing humans very much. They frequently flutter around the lower branches of trees in search of insects, even hanging upside-down.