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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 First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 40Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 73
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 69
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 158
Geoff Lockwood's Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Year Published: - Page: 104
Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 412
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 486
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 480
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 308