Long Tailed Tits

Long tailed tits are a very interesting species. Once out of the nest they moult all of their feathers unlike most species which just moult a few and then wait until they have bred to moult the rest. Long tailed tits take the smallest UK ring which is 2mm and only weighs 0.04g. The oldest long tailed tit recorded was 8 years 8 months where as the similar sized and weight wren is only 6 years 8 months. It is thought that the long tailed tit lives longer because of its cooperative breeding. This means that close family members help defend the nest and help with feeding. This allows the breeding pair more time to feed themselves and gives them a better chance of surviving the winter. The long tailed tit has a strong family relationship hence why you rarely see just one on your bird feeder