Scientific name: Aegithalos caudatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Tits and allies
Field characters. 14 cm. Unmistakable. A small tit with a tail-length half of the total length. Head white with a black eye-stripe, back black with pink mantle sides, primaries black and white, long tail black with white sides. Underparts white with strong pink wash on undertail up to legs. Bill black and very short. Races from northern and eastern Europe have completely white head and race occurring along northern shores of Mediterranean has faint eye-stripe and grey mantle. Flight seems weak, with long tail obvious. Usually in flocks outside breeding season, often with other tits. Acrobatic behaviour.
Voice. High 'sisisi', characteristic 'chirrup'.
Distribution. Common.
Habitat. In deciduous and mixed forests, parks, etc.
Food. Mainly small invertebrates, found in outer branches of trees; exceptionally on ground.