So, following on from our 1 blue tit egg last week, we now have more exciting news. Whilst the blue tit has now finished laying hers (total for this year is 8 eggs) we also have action from the great tits nest, which appears to have 5 eggs this year. This is the first time we've had a camera on the great tits, and its already shown many differences from the blue tits.
One, which i mentioned in the previous post, is the structure of the nest - whilst the blue tit appears very neat and tidy with a perfectly formed cup for its eggs, the great tit has a wider variety of materials and has lined the cup with wool. The cup of the great tit also appears at the back of the box, whilst the blue tit is quite central.
Also, it is very obvious that the great tit eggs are speckled and the blue tits are quite plain.
I expect we will discover many more difference over the coming weeks, but for now, a brief fact file about our very own reality TV show stars:
Blue Tit family:
- 8 eggs laid this year (10 in 2008)
- Incubation began on 3rd May
- Average incubation time is 13 - 15 days, giving an approximate hatching date of 16th - 18th May
- Once hatched it takes approximately 18 - 21 days for the birds to fledge
- Blue tit diet consist of insects and spiders, with fruit and seeds eaten in the winter
- Egg weight is 1.1g
- Fun fact: most birds can see ultra-violet light, but the front of blue tits heads glow under UV light. This is the way that the female chooses her mate.
Great tit family:
- 5 eggs laid this year (average is 7 - 9)
- Incubation began on 6th May
- Average incubation time is 13 - 15 days, giving an approximate hatching date of 16th - 18th May
- Once hatched it takes approximately 18 - 21 days for the birds to fledge
- Great tit diet consists of invertebrates (esp. butterflies and beetles) and spiders, with seeds and fruit in the winter
- Egg weight is 1.7g
- Fun fact: The black stripe on a male great tit is an indicator of status. Larger stripes are more attractive to females.
Bird facts are courtesey of the BTO's 'Birdfact' pages www.bto.org.uk/birdfact