
Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player. Latin namePanurus biarmicus FamilyTits (Timaliidae) OverviewA brown, long-tailed bird, usually seen flying rapidly across the top of a reedbed. Males have black 'moustaches' rather than 'beards'. They are sociable and noisy , their 'ping' calls often being the first clue to their presence. They are particularly vulnerable to severe winters and their population has declined in recent years, making them an Amber List species. Where to see themFound only in reedbeds. May move away from breeding areas in winter. When to see themAll year round What they eatInsects, insect larvae, spiders and seeds Estimated numbers| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* |
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| 240,000-480,000 pairs | 504-559 pairs | - | - |
* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn. Distribution
- In the UK
- Mainly eastern and southern England
- In Europe
- Most of Europe apart from N Scandinavia
- Worldwide
- Europe and Asia
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
Find out more
Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100) |