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  4. Willow Tit (Poecile montana)

Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)

Id: Exceedingly similar to Marsh Tit, but cap is sooty, not glossy, and most birds show definite pale panel on wing, made by pale edges to the secondaries. Bib is often larger than that of Marsh Tit, and less neatly defined.

It might be remarkably similar to the Marsh Tit in appearance, but the Willow Tit is very different in many aspects of its life history. For one thing, a major part of its European population breeds in conifer woods, something that the Marsh Tit never does. It also excavates its own nest hole which, again, the Marsh Tit does not do. The Willow Tit also feeds on rather finer and smaller items than the Marsh Tit, especially in the seeds that it takes. And, at least in some parts of Europe, the composition of its winter flocks is quite different.

Besides boreal and montane evergreen forests Willow Tits occur in two other distinct habitats as well: small clusters of trees or bushes in damp areas; and birch forests. The first habitat gives the bird its English name, as willows, along with elders, birches and alders, are ideal for it; these are all thin, weak barked trees that are likely to provide nest sites. The last named habitat is chiefly occupied in the far north.

The Willow Tit is not the only European tit to excavate a nest-hole; the Crested Tit does, too. But while the Crested Tit will sometimes not bother with the whole rigmarole, and simply modify an existing hole, the Willow Tit must excavate a new one every year; otherwise it will not breed. Even nest-boxes must be filled with removable wood chippings if they are to be accepted. Interestingly, excavation is carried out by both sexes of Willow Tit, but in the Crested Tit solely by the female.

Once breeding is over and winter beckons, Willow Tits fall into various social camps according to where they occur. All paired adult birds remain on their territory all year, but in some areas they remain thus in winter, as a twosome. In other places the owners will accept two first year birds into the territory to share its defence, and in still other areas they will accept four tenants, to make a group of six. Within all the social groupings adults are dominant over first year birds; but if one adult dies, the younger bird tends to move in to take its place.