Our planet is not home to a single species of titmouse, but several dozen that are as different as each other. Today we highlight one of the most beautiful, colorful and surprising: Sophie’s tit. Discovery.
Sophie’s tit: a rainbow sparrow
At first glance, you would think that this beautiful multicolored bird is from an animated film. And rightly so, all these flamboyant colors give it a fantastic, even unreal side. But no, Sophie’s tit (or Leptopoecile sophiae) consists. Also called Sophie’s Orite or Eyebrow Warbler, it measures between 8.5 and 10 centimeters and weighs only between 6 and 8 ounces. The male has beautiful blue, pink and purple feathers, the female is grey-brown and therefore much duller.
Where can you observe Sophie’s mee?
This beautiful multicolored plumage is a dream, isn’t it? To observe the Sophie’s tit in real life, you have to travel a few thousand kilometers. This sparrow hides in wooded and mountainous areas, between 2,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level. They are mainly found in the Himalayas, on the Tibetan plateau and in northwestern China.
How does Sophie’s tit live?
During reproduction, Sophie’s meek lives in pairs. This period takes place from the month of April. It is at this time that the male and female begin to build the nest that will house their young (between 4 and 6 eggs). In addition, the two birds participate equally in the rearing of the chicks. Then the two lovebirds leave the nest and join groups of about twenty individuals. During the winter, other bird species also mix with the flock.
In terms of food, the Sophie’s tit feeds mainly on small insects and spiders. In winter, it sometimes pecks for seeds and berries it finds in the wild.
There you now know everything about this beautiful multicolored bird. Did you like this article? To continue, find out how and why you can attract tits to your garden?