Southern Black Tit

Afrikaans name: Gewone Swartmees

Photo © Steven Herbert

Parus niger

Southern Black Tits are normally found in small flocks in open woodland. They tend to be seen halfway up the trees as the forage amongst the leaves.

They are found along most of the eastern half of South Africa but they are absent from the Free State.

Insects form the main part of their diet, and in particular wasps, but they also eat fruit and nectar.

The female Southern Black Tit does most of the work when it comes to breeding. She makes the nest and lays up to 6 eggs. She then incubes them for about 2 weeks. She leaves the nest at times to go and feed. Once the chicks hatch then the male and other "helper" birds from the flock assist with feeding them.

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 215

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 40

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 40

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 197

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 166

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 73

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 88

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 181

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 69

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 158

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 104

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 216

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 412

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 308

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 308

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 279

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 359

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 373

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 486

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 480

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 294

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 308

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 103

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 181

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 218

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 56

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds