Birds · Passeriformes · Paridae

African Blue Tit

Cyanistes teneriffae

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The African blue tit is a tit endemic to the Canary archipelago and north-west Africa, darker than the European blue tit: it has a slate-blue back and a strongly marked black band on the head. Each island has its own subspecies, with notable differences in colour and song, to the point that whether some should be treated as separate species is debated. It occupies almost every wooded habitat on the islands, from the laurel forest to urban gardens.

Weight

9 g – 13 g

Size

11 cm – 12 cm

Lifespan

8 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Temperate forestMountainIslandsInsectivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Temperate forest Mountain Islands

5countries 4parks5same family

Fun facts

Each island in the archipelago has its own subspecies, with distinct plumage and song, and the populations of Gran Canaria and those of the western islands are so genetically separate that several authors propose treating them as different species.
It is one of the few birds that can be seen both inside the humid laurel forest and in the dry summit pine woods and the gardens of the Canarian towns.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Laurel forest, Canary pine woods, palm groves, wooded farmland and gardens of the Canary Islands
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 14 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 5 eggs

Sources consulted: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ | https://animaldiversity.org/ | https://es.wikipedia.org/