Varied tit facts for kids
The varied tit (Sittiparus varius) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the tit family, Paridae. You can find this bird in eastern Asia. It lives in Japan, Korea, and parts of China and Russia.
Quick facts for kids Varied tit |
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Sittiparus
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| Species: |
varius
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5 living, 1 recently extinct; see text |
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Contents
About the Varied Tit's Name
Scientists gave the varied tit its first official name in 1845. Two scientists, Coenraad Jacob Temminck and Hermann Schlegel, described it. They called it Parus varius.
Over time, scientists learned more about birds. They used new tools like DNA studies. This helped them understand how different birds are related. Because of these studies, the varied tit's name changed. It moved to a new group, or genus, called Sittiparus. This name was first used in 1884.
Some birds that looked like varied tits were once thought to be the same species. But new studies showed they are actually different species. These include Owston's tit, the Iriomote tit, and the chestnut-bellied tit.
Types of Varied Tits
There are several types, or subspecies, of the varied tit. One of these types sadly became extinct around 1940.
- S. v. varius (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845) - Found in southern Kuriles, northeastern China, central and southern Korea, and Japan.
- S. v. sunsunpi (Kuroda, 1919) - Lives on Tanegashima island.
- S. v. namiyei (Kuroda, 1918) - Found on Toshima Island, Niijima, and Kōzu-shima.
- S. v. yakushimensis (Kuroda, 1919) - Lives on Yakushima island.
- S. v. amamii Kuroda, 1922 - Found on Amami Ōshima, Tokunoshima, and Okinawa Island.
- S. v. orii Kuroda, 1923 Daito varied tit - This type used to live on the Daitō Islands. It became extinct around 1940.
What the Varied Tit Looks Like
The varied tit is a small bird. It is about 12 to 14 centimeters (5 inches) long. It weighs about 16 to 18 grams (0.6 ounces). Its wings are about 6 to 7.8 centimeters long.
This bird has a black head, throat, and upper chest. Its forehead, face, and cheeks are white. Its back, wings, and tail are a pretty bluish-grey color. The lower chest and belly are chestnut brown. A thin white line runs from its head down its neck. Its feet are dark grey.
Where Varied Tits Live
Varied tits like to live in open forests. These forests often have a mix of different trees. They especially like areas with Japanese Castanopsis trees and Japanese larch. They also live in forests with Japanese yews, Cryptomeria (sugi), and pine trees. You can also find them in bamboo forests. They live on mountain slopes and in river valleys.
What Varied Tits Eat
The varied tit eats a mix of different foods. They enjoy seeds and insects. Caterpillars are one of their favorite insect foods.
Varied Tit Sounds
The varied tit makes tiny sounds. Its call often sounds like tzu….tzu….tzu….
Varied Tits in Culture
In Japan, varied tits have been part of a special show. It's called "omikujihiki." In this show, the birds help people get fortune-telling slips.
The birds use a small model of a Shinto shrine. They will put a coin in, ring a bell, and open a door. Then, they take out a fortune-telling slip. They bring it back to the person. They can even use their beaks to open the slip if it's tied with a string or tape.
