Crested Tit (Parus cristatus) one of the many birds of Spain

The crested tit – size 4,5 inches is a bird often seen in the yard of Refugio Marnes, especially in and around the pine trees. It is a spectacular bird with a black and white coloured crest and, seen up close, a beautiful, bright red eye. The head is predominantly white, a black throat and a black, half-oval line which has the shape of a big ear. Because crested tits occur mainly in and around pine trees and that is why they are often difficult to observe, however, they have a distinctive call that betrays their presence, and this characteristic call is heard at the beginning of this youtube video. Crested Tits seem to prefer the pine forests but are also found in deciduous forests.

This species within the birds of Spain is a residing bird specie and therefor does not migrate (except when conditions are really extreme). Crested tits occur throughout the whole mainland of Spain (absent in the Balearic and Canary Islands) but more rare in treeless areas like the Tajo and Ebro deltas. Crested Tits live mainly from seeds but also eat spiders and insects. Nests are made in natural holes in tree trunks or branches, but cases have been documented in which they made their nest in the nest of a bird of prey.

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