European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) [XC696340]
by Alan Dalton from Arrondissement de Brioude (near Saugues), Haute-Loire, Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes, Sweden (call)
European Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) [XC120174]
by Herman van Oosten from Charnohorski Chrebet, Rakhivs'kyi district, Zakarpats'ka oblast, Estonia (alarm call, song)
Nest
In an excavated hole of a tree, composed of moss, lined with hair and wool.
Eggs (Guide)
6 - 7; white, spotted and blotched rusty-red, usually more at the larger end.
Subspecies
Relationship with Grey-crested Tit (Lophophanes dichrous) uncertain. Both were previously considered, on grounds mainly of morphology, to have close affinity with Bridled Titmouse (Baeolophus wollweberi).
Has hybridized with Coal Tit (Periparus ater). Geographical variation largely clinal; subspecies weigoldi, abadiei and mitratus intergrade widely in western Europe; baschkirikus and bureschi are poorly differentiated from nominate, and considered by some to fall within range of variation of latter.
The following 7 subspecies are recognised:
scoticus Pražák, 1897 - North-central Scotland.
abadiei (Jouard, 1929) - Western France.
weigoldi (Tratz, 1914) - Western and southern Iberia.
cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Northern and eastern Europe south to Carpathian Mts.
baschkirikus Snigirewski, 1931 - South-western and central Urals.
mitratus (Brehm, CL, 1831) - Central Europe south to north-eastern Spain, Alps, Croatia and northern Serbia.
bureschi (von Jordans, 1940) - Albania east to Bulgaria, and northern and central Greece.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet