THIS WEEK’S THEME: LONG-TAILED
Sometimes a bird’s name tells you exactly what to look for. This week features five species whose names call attention to one particularly conspicuous feature—their remarkably long tails.
Scientific name
Aegithalos caudatus
Taxonomic group
Aegithalidae — Long-tailed Tits
Click photograph to view full size
A photograph is worth a thousand words, but the story makes it worth a few more.
ABOUT THIS SPECIES
The Long-tailed Tit quickly became one of my favorite birds during my visits to England. There was something immediately familiar about them. They reminded me of our Bushtits back home—small, long-tailed balls of fluff traveling in tight-knit flocks as they moved through the understory from shrub to shrub.
I had seen Long-tailed Tits on previous visits to England, but a good photograph had always eluded me. They rarely seemed interested in staying in one place long enough to cooperate.
This time was different.
During one of my relaxing afternoons at my son’s house in Papworth Everard, a wandering flock moved through the shrubs nearby. For once, they came close enough—and lingered long enough—for me to capture a whole series of photographs.
Sometimes you don’t have to go looking for the photograph.
Sometimes it comes wandering through the backyard.
IMAGE DETAILS
LOCATION INFORMATION: Papworth Everard · Cambridgeshire, England · March 22, 2024
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION: Canon EOS R5 · Canon RF 100–500mm F4.5–7.1 L IS USM
SETTINGS INFORMATION: 500mm · ƒ/8 · 1/2000 sec · ISO 3200