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Varied Tit, Poecile varius varius, ヤマガラ

The Varied Tit (Sittiparus varius) is a perching bird from the tit family, Paridae. It occurs in eastern Asia in Japan, Korea, and locally in northeastern China (southern Liaoning) and extreme southeastern Russia (southern Kurile Islands).

Varied Tit, Poecile varius varius, ヤマガラ

Range map
Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net
www.oiseaux.net is one of those MUST visit pages if you're in to bird watching. You can find just about everything there


Taxonomy
The varied tit was described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck and the German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel in 1845 and given the binomial name Parus varius. [a]

Until the end of the twentieth century the varied tit was usually placed along with most of the other member of the tit family in the genus Parus.

In 2005 the report of a molecular phylogenetic study that examined mitochondrial DNA sequences from members of the tit family, recommended including the varied tit along with around fifteen other species in the resurrected genus Poecile.

The authors of a 2013 study that analysed both mitochondrial and nuclear sequences, suggested splitting Poecile and placing the varied tit and its sister taxon, the white-fronted tit in their own genus Sittiparus.

The genus had originally been erected by the Belgium politician and naturalist Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1884 with the varied tit as the type species. This proposal was adopted by the International Ornithologists' Union.

Owston's tit (Sittiparus owstoni), the Iriomote tit (Sittiparus olivaceus) and the chestnut-bellied tit (Sittiparus castaneoventris) were formerly considered as subspecies of the varied tit, but were promoted to species status following the publication of a phylogenetic study in 2014.

A number of subspecies have been described, of which one has become extinct in the 20th century:

• S. v. varius (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845) - southern Kuriles (Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup), north-eastern China, central and southern Korea, Japan

• S. v. sunsunpi (Kuroda, 1919) - Tanegashima

• S. v. namiyei (Kuroda, 1918) - Toshima Island, Niijima and Kōzu-shima

• S. v. yakushimensis (Kuroda, 1919) - Yakushima

• S. v. amamii Kuroda, 1922 - Amami Ōshima, Tokunoshima and Okinawa Island

• S. v. orii Kuroda, 1923 Daito varied tit - formerly Daitō Islands (Kitadaitōjima and Minami Daitōjima), extinct c. 1940

Notes
[a] Fauna Japonica was issued in fascicles (parts). Although the description of the varied tit on pages 71-72 was included in fascicles IV-VIII which were published in 1848, plate 35 was published with fascicle 2 in July 1845.

Description
The varied tit is 12–14 cm long and weighs 16–18 g. The wing length is 6.0–7.8 cm. In the nominate race S. v. varius the crown, the bill, the throat, the upper breast and the nape are black. Forehead, face, and cheeks are white. Back, wings, and tail are bluish grey.



Length: 12 - 14 cm
Wingspan: 6 - 7,8 cm
Weight: 16 - 18 g
Longevity: -
Distinctive Feature
Similar Species


From opus at www.birdforum.net the forum for wild birds and birding.




Mantle, lower breast, belly and undertail coverts are chestnut coloured. From the crown to the nape runs a thin white central line. The feet are dark grey.

Its habitat consists of open mixed forests, in particular with the Japanese Castanopsis species Castanopsis cuspidata and Japanese larch, coniferous forests with Japanese yews, Cryptomeria (sugi), and pines as well as bamboo forests at mountain slopes and in river valleys.

The varied tit eats a mixed diet consisting of seeds and insects, namely caterpillars.

Its call consists of tiny tones which sounds like tzu….tzu….tzu…

Listen to the Varied Tit

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder. High Pass Filter applied

Huffin and puffin up Mount Takao and I finally spot a Varied Tit. I make the recording and I´m surprised that the bird sitting next to me so I can get great pictures.

500kg bird watcher climbing the Nature Trail #4 and my dial had turned the shutter speed to 1/20000 and crazy ISO speed and the pictures were all garbage. When I discovered this the bird was long gone. DARN!!!!


www.xeno-canto.org


In culture
In Japan varied tits have been used in a kind of show called "omikujihiki" to draw fortune telling-slips (omikuji). Using a small model Shinto shrine the birds will deposit a coin, ring a bell, open the door, remove a fortune telling slip and return with it. They may also use their beaks to open it by cutting a string or tape.

Conservation status
Varied Tit, Poecile varius varius, ヤマガラ
Least Concern IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.birdforum.net


Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use) 9 April 2019
Location: Mount Takao summit


Varied Tit, Poecile varius varius, ヤマガラ
Varied Tit / ヤマガラ - Mount Takao summit - 9 April 2019

Varied Tit, Poecile varius varius, ヤマガラ
Varied Tit / ヤマガラ - Mount Takao summit - 9 April 2019

Varied Tit, Poecile varius varius, ヤマガラ
Varied Tit / ヤマガラ - Mount Takao summit - 9 April 2019



PLEASE! If I have made any mistakes identifying any bird, PLEASE let me know on my guestbook



       
                  



                                       

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