PARUS.
Bill short, strong, conical ; nares covered with feathers; of restless habits, searching branches, leaves, bark, etc., and in all attitudes; food, insects and seeds, but some omnivorous near dwellings ; nest in holes in trees, walls, etc. ; eggs white, spotted with dark or light reddish brown.
Parus major major L. GREAT TIT. Fr. Mesange char bonniere ; Ger. Kohlmeise ; Ikrl. Cinciallegra ; Swed. Talgmees.
e Head black, cheeks white, and nuchal patch white tinged yellow ; back yellow green ; rump and upper tail coverts bluish grey ; tail, outer webs blue grey, inner webs blackish, outer pair feathers white outer web and with patch of white at tip of inner web, penultimate pair with small white tip, third pair often tipped white ; wing coverts blue grey with white tips ; beneath yellow, throat black and continuous with a broad black band clown middle of breast and abdomen. Bill black. Legs and feet leaden blue. Wing e 9 70-76. Tarsus 18-2o. Bill 9-1o. 9 like but duller, especially black of throat. Young have all white parts yellowish.
Breeds.—Continental Europe north to 67° in Norway, south to Mediterranean, Sicily, Balearic Islands, and in Siberia to 6o' E. In winter occurs in Corsica, Sardinia, Corfu, rarely Malta, occasional British Isles, but is largely resident.
"P. m. sulphureus" (S. Dalmatia) and "P. m. mallorca" (Majorca) do not appear separable.
P. major newtoni Prazak. Bill more massive and conical, about i m.m. longer. Wing 74-78, 9 70-75. Resident.—British Islands.
P. major excelsus Buvry. Bill intermediate between "major" and "newtoni." White on inner web of outer tail feathers much reduced, sometimes to a small spot, and generally absent on second pair.
Resident.—N. Tunisia, N. Algeria, Morocco, extreme S. Spain.
P. major corsus Kleinschmidt. Yellow paler, duller, white on outer tail feathers also much reduced. Wing shorter, 71-73. Bill as in typical form.
Resident.—Corsica, Sardinia.
P. major peloponnesus Parrot. Green on back duller than in typical form ; yellow below paler.
Resident.—Greece, Crete, Greek Islands.
Parus cruleus cseruleus L. BLUE TIT. Fr. Mesange bleue ; Ger. Blaumeise ; Ital. Cinciarella ; Swed. Blames.
9 Above yellowish green with a grey tinge, crown, wing coverts, outer margins of quills and tail feathers azure blue ; forehead, cheeks and a line encircling the occiput white ; a dark blue collar ; throat black ; greater wing coverts and inner secondaries with crescentic white tips ; beneath yellow, with white in middle of abdomen and a black line down centre of breast. Bill black. Legs and feet plumbeous. Wing 64-69. Tarsus 17-18. Bill 6.5-7.
Rreeds.—Continental Europe north to about 64 in Norway and 61' in Russia, east to Urals, south to Caspian, N. Caucasus and N. Spain ; also Asia Minor. Resident. Accidental in Malta and Britain ; in winter occurs Sardinia.
P. cFeruleus obscurus Prazak. Darker and greener above ; white tips of secondaries much smaller and not crescentic. Size less. Wing d 6o-65, 9 57-63.
Isles.
P. cieruleus ogliastree Hartert. Above darker than typical form, yellow below duller ; very like "obscurus" but tips of secondaries crescentic as in typical form. \Ving d 61-65 (H.).
Resident.—Sardinia, Corsica, Crete (Lynes).
P. cmruleus harterti Tratz. Very near " ogliastrte" but mantle darker and more bluish green. 'Wing d 56-63, 9 57-62. Resident.—Portugal and Spain except N.
P. ewritieus balearicus Jordans. Vent and lower breast very light, white with grey wash ; hack greyer than in "cmruleus" especially in 9 ; forehead pure white. \Ving d 61-7o, 9 64-68 (H.).
Resident.—Majorca.
P. cwruleus ultramarinus Bonaparte. Blue much darker, crown and collar almost black ; back greyish blue, instead of green. Wing 6 63-67 (H.).
Resident.—N.W. Africa, Morocco to Tunis.
P. cmruleus teneritrm Lesson. Generally darker than "ultra marinus" and has no white spots on secondaries and wing coverts.
Reside/d. —Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Gomera (Canary Islands).
P. cruleus degener Hartert. Like "ultramarinus" but paler above, blue of head rather darker and yellow brighter. Resident.—Fuerteventura and Lanzarote (Canary Islands).
P. czeruleus ombriosus Meade Waldo. Hind neck blue grey ; back olive green, no ‘‘ bite on abdomen ; upper tail coverts greenish grey.
Resident.—Hierro (Canary Islands).
P. czeruleus palmensis Meade Waldo. Darker above and more slaty grey than " teneriffze" ; centre of breast and abdomen pure white ; crown intense blue black.
Resident—Palma (Canary Islands).
P. cruleus orientalis (Sarudny and Loudoun). Paler than typical form ; white tips to secondaries broader, blue also paler ; below, yellow brighter and more white on abdomen.
Resident.—S. Russia, Orenburg, south to Uralsk, Kasan and Simbirsk.
"Parus pleskii" Cabanis found in N. Russia is a hybrid between "cyanus" and " cmruleus." Parus cyanus cyanus Pallas. AZURE TIT.
e 9 Crown and nuchal patch white ; from lores through eye to nape runs a dark blue stripe, joining a dark blue collar ; back and lesser wing coverts grey blue with white tips, greater coverts white with dark blue bases ; outer rectrices white, inner webs grey at base ; inner webs of inner secondaries white ; beneath white, with a blue stripe down breast. Bill blackish horn, cutting edges pale. Legs and feet plumbeous. Wing 67-72. Tarsus 16. Bill 6-7.
Breeds.—E. Russia and W. Siberia. In winter ranges west to Baltic Provinces and Poland ; exceptionally further west even to Holland and south to Austria and Rumania.
P. cyanus tianschanicus (Menzbier). Smaller than "cyanus." Wing 65, back slaty grey, outer tail feathers with more grey and less white than in " cyanus " and inner secondaries with less white on inner webs.
A Siberian breeding race which in winter ranges into east of Russia.
Parus ater ater L. COAL TIT. Fr. Mesange noire ; Ger. Tannenmeise ; ital. Cincia mora ; Swed. Svartmes.
8 9 adult. Above bluish grey, greenish on upper tail coverts ; median and greater wing coverts with white tips ; lower face, sides of neck and nuchal patch white ; beneath whitish, flanks, sides of abdomen and under tail coverts buff, under wing coverts and axillaries white. Bill black. Legs and feet leaden blue. Wing 60-65, ? 58-64. Tarsus 16-17 (\V.). Dill 7-8.5. In young : cj white parts of adult pale yellow.
Resident —Continental Europe north to 67.56' in Norway, C. and S. Sweden, N. Russia and in Siberia, south to N. Spain, Italy, Sicily, Hungary and S. Russia.
"P. a. schwederi" from Livonia is not considered separable.
P. ater britannicus Sharpe and Dresser. Slightly smaller. Above greyish olive, flanks and under tail coverts brownish buff. Wing a 58-62, ? 56-62. Tarsus 16-18.
Resident —England and Scotland, and N.E. Ireland (County Down).
P. ater hibernicus Ogilvie-Grant. Like "britannicus" but white parts deeply tinged yellow ; rump, upper tail coverts, flanks and under tail coverts cinnamon. Wing 8` 57-62, ? 56-60.
Resident—Ireland, except N.E. (County Down).
P. ater sardus Kleinschmidt. Like "britannicus" as to size but upper back grey as in typical "ater"; lower back and rump greyish olive, flanks rusty brown.
Resident—Corsica and Sardinia.
P. ater vieira3 Nicholson. Intermediate between "ater" and "britannicus" ; mantle between grey and olive, rump olive brown, flanks and axillaries more golden buff than in "britannicus."
Wing d 6o-65, ? 56-62.
Resident—Spain and Portugal.
"1'. a. lusitanicus" from Oporto does not appear separable.
P. ater atlas Meade Waldo. Close to "sardus" in colour of upper parts ; beneath, black of foreneck extends over sides of breast and in fresh plumage breast is spotted white (these spots wear off later), flanks grey. Wing 66-69 (H.).
Resident.—Moroccan Atlas.
P. ater ledouci Malherbe. Lower face, sides of neck as well as breast and abdomen yellow at all ages (characteristic of young of other races and adult " hibernicus ") ; back grey with slight olive tinge, flanks greenish grey. Wing 65-68.5 (H.).
Resident—N. Tunisia and N. Algeria.
S. Crimea.
Caucasus.
Parus cristatus cristatus L. CRESTED TIT. Fr. Mesange hupp6e ; Ger. Haubenmeise ; Ital. Cincia col ciuffo ; Swed. Tofsmes.
g 9 Above brown with slight grey shade ; crown crested, black with broad white margins ; face and sides of neck white, mottled slightly black ; a black crescentic band from behind eye, enclosing ear coverts ; throat black, joined to black band from nape crossing sides of neck ; beneath white, flanks tinged buff. Bill black. Legs and feet leaden blue. Wing j 62-67, 9 59-65 (W.). Tarsus t8. Bill 7-8.
Resident. — Scandinavia, C. and N. Russia to about 64°, Baltic Provinces, south to Carpathians ; occasional in Caucasus.
Resident.--Continental Europe from Denmark and Germany (except E. Prussia), south to Pyrenees and Cantabrian Mountains (N. Spain), Mountains of C. Europe, N. Italy, Balkan Peninsula, Rumania.
(except extreme north) and Portugal, Parus cinctus cinctus Boddaert. TIT. Crown and nape grey brown ; scapulars, back and rump reddish brown ; throat sooty black ; face, sides of neck, breast, and centre of abdomen white ; flanks and sides reddish buff. Bill brownish black. Legs and feet plumbeous. Wing (!' 65-68, 9 65-66. Tarsus 16-18. 11i11 7.
Breeds.—N. Scandinavia, south to Dovrefjeld in Norway, N. Russia, W. Siberia. In winter south to Moscow.
Parus lugubris lugubris Temminck. SOMBRE TIT.
9 Above light brown, crown, nape, and throat black ; cheeks and ear coverts white ; underparts dull white, sides of breast and flanks tinged pale ashy. Bill dark horn. Legs and feet leaden blue. Wing 72-76 (H.). Tarsus 20. Bill 8-9.
Resident.—Istria, S. Hungary and Rumania to north parts Balkan Peninsula. Rare visitor to N. Italy.
P. lugubris lugens Brehm. Smaller than typical form. \Ving 70-73 (H.). Crown duller and browner. Resident.—Greece.
Parus palustris palustris L. MARSH TIT. Fr. Nonette ; Ger. Sumpfmeise ; Bat. Cincia bigia ; Swed. Kiirrmes.
9 Crown to hind neck black with blue gloss ; back light grey brown, sides of head and neck white ; tail square ; beneath whitish, flanks, undertail coverts, and wing coverts washed with buff, centre of throat black. Bill black. Legs and feet leaden blue. \Ving g 65-67, 9 62.64 (H.). Tarsus 15-16. Bill 7-7.5.
Resident.—Norway north to 64°, S. Sweden, Baltic Provinces, E. Prussia.
P. palustris stagnatilis Brehm. Back browner, less grey. Bill larger, 7.5-S.
Resident.— Balkan Peninsula, Hungary and Galicia to S. Russia, Caucasus, and Asia Minor.
P. palustris communis Italdenstein. Darker brown above than "stagnatilis" ; sides of head buff-tinged. Wing 65-67.5 (H.).
Resident.—Germany (except E. Prussia), Alps of Austria, W. Hungary, Holland, Belgium, France, N. Spain.
P. palustris dresseri Stejneger. Back darker and more rusty brown ; flanks widely tinged with bright buff ; rather smaller. Wing 8' 59-65, ? 59-62.
Resident.—British Isles ; rare in Scotland and Ireland.
P. palustris italicus Tschusi and Hellmayr. Nearest to " communis" but redder on upper parts, flanks, and sides of neck. Resident—Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia.
Parus atricapillus. WILLOW TIT. Typical form is American.
P. atricapillus salicarius Brehm. Differs from "P. palustris" in having no gloss on the black of head and throat, black extends further down on throat ; back greyer and mixed with rufous ; tail graduated, outer tail feathers shorter than others. Bill and legs as in "palustris." Wing 8 59-65, ? 57-6o (H.). Tarsus 16-17. Bill 7-8.
Resident.—Germany, Austria to the spurs of Alps.
P. atricapillus rhenanus Kleinschmidt. Very near "sali carius " but upper parts duller ; face and ear coverts huffy white. Wing averages shorter, a 58-63 (H.).
Resident—Rhine Valley, north from Mainz to Holland and Belgium and west over France.
P. atricapillus kleinschmidti Hellmayr. Darker and browner than "rhenanus," underparts rather redder, ear coverts more buff.
Wing 8' 58-62, 56-6o.
Resident—Scotland and England.
P. atricapillus borealis Selys-Longchamps. Above light grey brown, underparts whiter, crown sometimes brown tinged ; face, ear coverts, and sides of neck pure white. Wing a 63-68, ? 60-63. Tarsus 16-18.
Resident—Scandinavia to N. Russia, Baltic Provinces and E. Prussia. In winter, south as far as Poland and Orenburg.
P. atricapillus assimilis Brehm. Like "borealis" but crown browner and bill longer and more slender ; underparts more buff as in "rhenanus." Wing a 66-69, ? 63-65 (H.).
Resident—Carpathian and Alps ; Mountains of Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
P. atricapillus bianchii (Sarudny and Harms). Resembles "borealis" but redder grey above ; bill short and thick ; flanks more buff.
Known only as a winter visitor to Pskov, Russia.
P. atricapillus montanus Baldenstein. Larger than all other forms, darker and browner than "borealis" and crown more mixed with brown, Wing d' 65-70 (H.).
Alps, Switzerland.
P. atricapillus elenw (Lowe). In size like "montanus" but darker. Crown deep dull black, black of throat more extensive, upper parts dark smoky grey with an olive brown tinge.
Resident.— N.W. Italy (Val Tournanche).
P. atricapillus baicalensis Swinhoe. Nearest "borealis" but back paler and greyer. Wing e Resident.—N.E. Russia and through Siberia east to Japan.