The European Crested Tit or Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus

Features

The European crested tit is practically the only bird in our country, which boasts a ponytail on its head. They can be distinguished from other tits by their red eyes and fearless nature.

Species	Bird
Living space	Conifer forest, Deciduous forest
Size	11 -12 cm
Weight	10 - 13 g

Description

The tops of their heads are brownish-gray, and whitish below, the feathers around their necks are black. They have short, black beaks, brown-olive coloured legs, and are best known for their distinctive white-black pointed ponytail on their heads. The young birds are more brown in colour and do not have the distinctive pointed ponytail and black collar. They usually make their nests in holes in rotting stumps. The habitat of the European crested tit consists mainly of conifer and mixed forests. In Slovenia, it is a common species to see all year round. They also live in parks and gardens. In contrast to other tits, the singing set of the crested tit is very modest. They are only active during the daytime. The wingspan of adult birds is between 17 and 20 cm.