Coal Tit

Periparus ater ptilosus

Endemic Subspecies

The Coal Tit is a small (11 cm) bird with a black bib, a black cap forming a crest, a white patch on the nape, whitish underparts and a gray back.  The wings are blackish with two white wing bars.  The bill and legs are black.  The Taiwan race ptilosus has a longer crest, but is otherwise very similar to some of the mainland races.

The Coal Tit feeds on insects, small nuts and seeds.  It is often found in mixed feeding flocks with other species of tits.  It stores food for the winter, and is thus able to survive year-round in high elevation forests.  Sounds of the Coal Tit include a foraging “pseet” call, and a “tsee see see see see” alarm call.

The Coal Tit is a common resident of Taiwan year-round in high elevation coniferous and mixed deciduous forests.

References:  A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei); N. J. Collar, “Endemic subspecies of Taiwan birds—first impressions”, in Birding ASIA, Number 2, December 2004