Bird #509 — Eurasian Blue Tit

cyanistes (dark blue) caeruleus (cerulean)

Thursday, April 18, 2019 — 11:21 am

Stuttgart, Germany – Birkenkopf (Rubble Hill)

A couple of these colorful, lively birds were moving through the trees above the trail on Rubble Hill. They were just a shade larger than a Black-capped Chickadee, with the same basic shape. But the color was decidedly different. They had a yellow breast and belly, a greenish back, and various shades of blue on the wings, tail, neck, and cap. Their white cheek is divided by a black line.

The photos of the first ones I saw were poor, as the birds were silhouetted against a mid-day sky. But I saw many, many others during my time in Europe. They were all over in the woods near Boblingen, frequently in the company of Great Tits.

The most enjoyable sighting was at Hohenzollern Castle. One was perched in the very top of a tree off the walkway around the castle. It was high above the valley in the background.

From the tree, it flew to the castle wall and poked into a crevice, although I’m not sure if it was foraging for insects or looking for a place to nest.

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