Azure Tit

The azure tit is a small, unmistakable bird of 12–13 centimetres. The head, tail corners, wing bars and underparts are white and the upperparts are blue, with a distinctive dark line running through the eye. It is the only member of its family with a white cap. It was described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1770, and its closest relatives are the blue tit and the African blue tit. (Wikipedia, general species account)

The azure tit is a widespread and common resident breeder across Russia, Central Asia, northwest China, Manchuria and Pakistan, with a few records elsewhere in Europe. It lives in temperate and subarctic deciduous or mixed woodland, scrub and marshes, and most birds do not migrate. It nests in tree holes and lays about ten eggs. The bird sits tight on the nest and hisses and bites when disturbed. Its diet is mainly insects, seeds, small invertebrates, bug larvae and eggs. (Wikipedia, general species account)