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Great Tit
Latin Name:
Parus major
Size:
13cm
Description:
Sexes alike. Grey back; black crown continued along sides of neck to broad black band from chin along centre of underbody; white cheeks, nape-patch, wing
bar and outer feathers of black tail; ashy-white sides. The White-naped Tit P. nuchalis of W India lacks black on neck sides; has extensive white in wings and sides of body. Pairs or small bands, often with other small birds; restless, clings upside down, and indulges in all sorts of acrobatic displays as it hunts amongst leaves and branches; holds food fast between feet and pecks at it noisily; tame and confiding.
Habitat:
open forests, gardens, habitation.
Food:
insects, small fruit.
Distribution:
widespread in Himalaya, foothills to about 3,500m; peninsular India from Gujarat, C Rajasthan and Orissa south; absent in broad belt from NW India across Gangetic plains.
Call:
Call Description:
loud, clear whistling whee…chi…chee…; other whistling and harsh notes.
IUCN:
National Status:
At IITK: