Moskovka
Of all the tits living in our Moscow region, the Muscovy is the smallest tit: a ball with a short tail, at the end of which there is a small notch. 
You won’t see the Muscovy either in the city or at feeders in parks - this is a bird of taiga coniferous forests, spruce and fir, although in severe winter they are also found on other trees, but always in small and very mobile flocks. 
It’s not easy to photograph a Muscovite: it doesn’t sit still for a second, especially in very cold weather. These photographs were mainly taken at minus twenty here in Losiny Ostrov, where there are spruce districts. 
Regarding the origin of the name Moskovka, the opinions of great scientists differ. Some believe that its name comes from the word “mask,” which its white cheeks resemble. Then the original “maskovka” turned into “moskovka” in writing, since we pronounce the very name of the capital of our Motherland, the hero city, in the same way: “Maskva”, although we still write “Moscow”.
- The great tit has a longitudinal black stripe across its entire chest and abdomen, but the Muscovy does not have this stripe. 
- The Muscovy's black cap goes lower than the Great Tit's, and on the back of the Muscovy's head there is a clear white spot, which the Great Tit does not have. 
Look here. This is a great tit: 
This is Moscow: 
You can see that the color of the Muscovy's breast varies greatly and there is no black stripe on it. About the white spot on the back of the head below. The Muscovite cannot be confused with another of our common tits, the Opolovnik, which is also called the Apollo tit for its rare beauty. Here is a polovnik - both in silhouette and in coloring they are completely different from the Muscovite. But it is easy to confuse the Muscovy with the brown-headed tit, which lives in the same forests and also in hollows, although the tit is a little larger, and its silhouette seems a little more elongated due to its longer tail. The first difference is the back of the head. The chickadee's black cap goes down even lower than that of the Muscovy and there is also no white spot on it. But the Muscovite has it! Hollows and 
brown-headed tit 
, and Moskovka rarely build themselves, although they know how. More often they use the hollows of small 
spotted woodpecker 
, which is slightly larger in size than a sparrow. 
This is a Muscovite near its hollow. 
And again, pay attention to the white spot on the back of the head, which is clearly visible in the middle photo. And now the bird will fly out:
Here she is: 
Take my word for it: this is Moscow! Where the Muscovy is near the hollow, in the first photo its shoulders appear to be colored with an azure tint. But the blue tit is somewhat larger and looks different. Like this:
Smaller than the Muscovy we have only the yellow-headed wren, which also lives in spruce forests. But you can’t confuse it with any other bird:
Distributed throughout Russia from the westernmost borders to Sakhalin, Primorsky Krai and Kamchatka. IN major cities found in parks and forested areas on the outskirts of the city. It is especially noticeable in the city during winter migrations during the years of spruce and pine cone harvest.
The Muscovite lives mainly in spruce or pine forests. She makes a nest in old hollows, in the roots of fallen trees, in crevices wooden houses. Not finding a suitable hollow, it also occupies abandoned rodent holes. The nest is constructed from moss and scraps of wool from various animals; the inner layer of the nest always contains cobwebs and downy feathers.
In the summer, when the chicks appear, titmice and other titmice unite in noisy flocks and roam the forest together in search of food. These birds feed exclusively on insects, caterpillars, butterflies, and in winter they consume the seeds of coniferous trees. Muscovy tits love to store supplies, and they hide the caught caterpillar or butterfly on the inside of the branch so that the snow that falls in winter does not interfere with getting to the pantry.
The voice of the Moscow tit:
Your browser does not support the audio element.Text used:
A. Gorkanova. "Migratory and wintering birds of Russia. Thematic dictionary in pictures"
The Muscovy is one of our smallest and nimble tits. Like kinglets, it prefers to stay in the tops of tall coniferous trees, examining the outer parts and terminal branches of the crowns. It probably formed in the dark coniferous (mainly spruce) forests of East Asia with their ancient formations of spruce and fir. The clear attraction of Muscovy to spruce is clearly manifested throughout its vast range from the mountain forests of Southeast Asia to west coasts Europe and the Atlas Mountains in Africa. Starting from the primary areas of its birth, it is at the same time closely associated with mountain spruce forests and, in addition to hollows, often nests in crevices and cracks of rocks. The connections between Muscovy and pine are clearly expressed, but less clear. According to a number of characteristics (and most importantly - the song), the Muscovy is very close to the great tit (more precisely, to the group of green great tits). Since the place of primary origin of the group of green tits was also Southeast Asia, this directly indicates that the Muscovy and great tits have common and close ancestors. These connections have been preserved so clearly that both species (great tit and Muscovy) have the same types of songs in their repertoire. The structure of the songs themselves is similar, and the laws of their development are identical. However, even close connections with mountains and spruce still do not allow us to call the Muscovy a northern or even taiga bird, since the northern border of its range in many areas does not reach the northern borders of spruce and is limited only to areas of highly productive and tall spruce forests. Although this pattern is not observed everywhere.
The Muscovy is apparently a very strong, intensively developing, extremely dynamic species. In this respect, it resembles its historical partners in spruce forests - the crossbill and kinglet. All these 3 species are prone to sudden changes in numbers, wide movements and sudden mass flights - migrations. In crossbill-spruce and moskovka, this is largely due to fluctuations in yields fir cone. The crossbill has the most powerful migrations and population outbreaks, since its existence directly depends on seed yields. For Muscovy, these connections are weakened, because it depends to a greater extent not on cone yields, but on those pests that in large numbers infect spruce, its cones and seeds. The kinglet’s connections with the spruce are even more indirect, and for him the spruce is more like a substrate on which he collects everything he can find. The number of kinglets is an indicator of the general condition of the spruce forest and its specific entomofauna.
Over the vast expanses of its range, the Muscovy is often sedentary, partly nomadic, and sometimes strictly migrant with a pronounced tendency to mass sudden migrations. The Muscovy nests mainly in spruce, less often pine (usually tall-trunk) forests. Avoids spruce and pine young trees. In mixed, deciduous forests and riverine forests, it usually nests only where there are at least single tall spruce trees. Like most resident birds, is prone to massive storage of food and strong preservation of permanent pairs. During non-breeding times, it often stays together and wanders with flocks of nuthatches, chickadees, gennaders, great tits and pikas.
The first signs of spring revival sometimes appear in December - January, but more often in February - March. The height of spring games is in March - early April. These days, Muscovy women not only sing a lot, become very loud and noisy, but often chase each other around tall fir trees. Breeding pairs of Muscovites often form before they appear on the site where they will build a nest. Both birds work together to find a place for a nest and mark the nesting site itself. Old birds, even joining a flock for the winter, do not lose their connections. They also appear in pairs at feeders among other tits when they remain in their nesting area for the winter. And yet many, and sometimes very many, Muscovites migrate far from their usual nesting sites. The further north the birds nest, the more often and regularly they fly away and migrate south for the winter. More often, young birds - fingerlings - go on migrations and long-distance migrations.
In the middle zone, Muscovites begin nesting in mid-April. They usually occupy old hollows of chickadees, less often - small spotted woodpeckers, sometimes they build a nest under the roots of trees, in artificial hollows and even in empty burrows of rodents. In the mountains of Siberia, Central Asia and the Caucasus, where the Muscovy nests, its nests are often found in crevices and cracks of rocks. Muscovy can be attracted to personal plots, gardens and parks, where tall pines and spruce trees grow. Huts for Muscovy must be made from thin stumps of aspen, birch or alder trunks. The Muscovite colonizes spruce and pine nests well with a small (20-30 mm in diameter) entrance, especially if the nests are hung in groups of tall spruce trees. Sometimes the female builds her own hollow, plucking it out in rotten aspen, birch or alder trees, in stumps or in tree trunks fallen to the ground.
At the selected nesting site, especially with a ready-made hollow, the male Muscovy sings a lot and regularly. Unlike other birds, it sings very rarely near the nest and only when mating, courting a female, or accompanying her during feeding or collecting nesting material. At the same time, he often interrupts singing, feeds himself and feeds the female. Feeding the female before mating and the start of laying is of a ritual nature. At the same time, the male lowers his wings, hunches unnaturally, flutters his wings finely and quietly circles, making peculiar buzzing sounds. The female often takes the pose of a chick begging for food and also flutters her wings finely, sometimes taking a spread-eagle pose.
The male usually sings his duty (or working) song far away, often 50-70 m from the nest, sitting on the crown of a tall spruce. It seems to become a kind of beacon, signaling that Muscovites are nesting in this area. The main point of guard singing is chosen at one of the most noticeable places where one can expect the appearance or flight of other Muscovites. The song of the Muscovy, like the song of the great tit, is evolutionarily built on the basis of its calls. The song is not complex, usually includes 2-3 sounds from 2 or 3 types of urges. Sometimes a song sounds even simpler - like a repetition of one urge. Most often, Muscovite songs are conveyed with the following sounds: “cog-cog-cog-cog...” or “tsi-vin... tsvin-tsvin-tsvin”, “tsvin-tsvin-tsvin”, etc. But this is just an elementary simplified diagram. In fact, the vocal repertoire of Muscovite women is very rich. Each bird may have 7-11 distinctly different song types. There are cases when, after several years of life in captivity, Muscovites delighted their owner with a new or even several new songs.
In the middle zone, Muscovites do not really like to nest nearby. The nearest nests are usually located at a distance of no closer than 50-70 m. However, males can sing at their guard posts and 15-20 m from each other. But then they don't sing at the same time. And if this happens, they prefer to be located at opposite ends of their territories. As with many other birds, in such situations, neighboring males may engage in vocal coordination with each other. At the same time, they sometimes choose the same songs from their repertoire and then signal to all other males that birds with related blood have settled here. Sometimes Muscovites enter into a real vocal tournament with each other and then, in the most intricate and unexpected way, they begin to juggle all their songs in front of each other, demonstrating their experience, talent and strength. This is how hierarchical ranks among birds can be established in Muscovite settlements. However, it is extremely rare to find a group settlement of Muscovite women in central Russia. Sometimes Muscovites nest next to great tits (nests can be located very close to each other, 15-20 m). Then the Muscovy often sings in concert with the great tit, and the tit often answers her willingly. The vocal repertoire of a small group of Muscovites or a settlement of 20-30 birds can be very rich. Many birds have both the same and Various types songs (or, more precisely, the types of syllables that make up a song). Many birds in such a group may have unusual, rare songs. Thanks to such diversity in the distribution of songs, the general arsenal of song types among Muscovite women in a certain area is often very rich. The vocal repertoires of geographically distant groups (populations) also differ sharply. Certain types of songs have different areas of territory. There are very widespread types of songs with huge areas, and there are classes and types of songs with local areas.
The usual sound signaling system of Muscovites, functioning on the basis of urges, is also complex and varied. Like other tits and kinglets, Muscovites have a very developed system of “qi” signals, which works on an emotional, combinatorial basis. The speed and frequency of reproduction (repetition) of these sounds are determined by the level of emotional arousal of the bird. The signal is emitted calmer, quieter and less frequently - danger or anxiety decreases, more often - increases, etc. Sharp “tsit” and “sit” mean fear. Lengthening the signal from “qi” to “tzii”, “tzii” means a warning, a warning. The total supply of Muscovite signals is very large.
The nest of the Muscovy is built by the female, using moss, which she fastens with wool or horsehair. The tray is sometimes lined with a small number of feathers and cobwebs. Building a nest takes 4-5 days. Clutch of 6-11 white eggs with reddish spots in April - June. There are usually 2 clutches per year. Incubation begins after the penultimate or last egg is laid and lasts 13-14 days. Only the female incubates. At this time, the male periodically feeds her, but the female herself flies to the nearest spruce trees to feed.
The chicks are fed by both parents. For the chicks, parents collect food in the crowns of spruce trees, less often pine trees, on the nesting tree or not far from it. Sometimes pupae ("ant eggs") are selected from ant heaps. The area of the couple's hunting area is from 4000 to 6000 m2. The food of nesting chicks of the first brood is quite homogeneous and often consists exclusively of representatives of the entomofauna of pine and spruce (from the caterpillars of the pine budworm and the pine pine moth, damaging spruce cones; larvae of the pine sawfly, spiders, aphids). According to the observations of A.A. Inozemtsev, shortly before departure, the chicks begin to receive small beetles and hymenoptera. The male often passes food to the female, and she then feeds the chicks. In preparation for the second clutch, the male often takes on additional feeding of the chicks after they fly out of the nest, while the female is already building a new nest at this time. Supplementary feeding lasts 8-10 days. The male sometimes leaves the chicks and begins to sing actively again before the second clutch. After the next singing session, he returns to the brood and continues to feed the fledglings. Construction of the second nest usually begins in the second half of June.
In July, the formation of family flocks, groups of young birds and mixed flocks of Coontails, Chickadees, Grenadiers, Nuthatches, Pikas, Kinglets and Woodpeckers begins. In August, Muscovites are found on migrations in all coniferous forests, and there are many of them in September. In September, the migration of northern Muscovites begins. During years of large numbers of Muscovy moths, you can see them moving in small flocks in a south and south-west direction. When the spruce seeds are harvested, large numbers of Muscovites remain for the winter in their nesting areas. Flocks of Muscovites are especially numerous when, in productive years, spruce cones and needles are heavily affected by the cone borer, sawfly, or other widespread pests of spruce. Similar situations arise with the development of massive pine pests, although Muscovites do not react so sensitively to outbreaks of pine pests.
In autumn and winter, Muscovites, in addition to insects, eat spruce and pine seeds. Muscovites store food throughout the year, but do this especially intensively in late summer and autumn. Among the reserves, spruce and pine seeds often predominate, but there are also reserves of animal feed. In the spring you can see Muscovites eating aspen anthers and drinking the sap of birch, maple, linden and other trees. During their massive raids, Muscovites often stay in places uncharacteristic for them and can even look for food in reed thickets.
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Due to the black cap on its head and white cheeks, the Muscovy tit is similar to the Great Tit, but differs significantly from it in its smaller size. In addition, the Muscovy has a more dense build, and the color of the feathers of the chest and sides does not have a bright yellow tint.
Many scientists believe that the characteristic cap of black feathers became the basis for the original Russian name for this bird - “maskovka”, with the emphasis on the first syllable. Later, the pronunciation of the word changed and shifted to the second syllable, acquiring a “metropolitan” sound. However, the black tit has nothing to do with Moscow, although based on the new name “Moskovka” one might think that this bird mainly lives in the capital of Russia. On the contrary, the Muscovy tit avoids close proximity to human habitation.
By appearance, behavioral characteristics and singing, the titmouse is similar to the great tit and blue tit.
This bird is found in forested regions throughout Eurasia from the British Isles to Japan. It can also be found in northwest Africa. The northern border of the Muscovy tit's distribution range runs along the 67th parallel of northern latitude in Scandinavia, and in Siberia it extends south to the 62nd parallel. In the south, the habitats of this bird are limited to steppe and desert regions.
The Muscovy lives mainly in coniferous forests, and is less common in mixed forests. She prefers quiet places, remote from human settlements and highways: dense forests, wooded mountain slopes.
Description of the Muscovy tit
The Muscovy is a small, dense and rounded breed with a short tail. Its body length is approximately 10–11.5 cm, and its weight is 7.2–12 g. The feathers on the head and back of the head are black, and on the cheeks they are off-white. In the upper part of the chest there is a shirtfront in the form of a black spot. The feathers on the head of the titmouse can be elongated in the form of a tuft; this feature is more pronounced in the southern subspecies.
The Muscovy tit is a sedentary species. Only a harsh and hungry winter can force these birds to look for food outside their permanent habitats.
The back of the black tit is bluish-gray with a brownish tint. The sides and belly are dirty white, and the tail and wings are brownish-gray. There are two light stripes on the wings. The characteristic distinguishing features of this species are a black mask on the head, which gave this bird its Russian name, and a small light spot on the back of the head. Depending on the severity of the crest and coloring characteristics, more than 20 subspecies of the Muscovy tit are distinguished.
Moskovka - small bird from the group of passerines, a lover of coniferous forests and an opponent of cities and villages, smaller and paler in color compared to its big sister (the common tit).
No matter which side of our vast homeland you visit, everywhere you will meet a small, agile creature with excellent musical abilities. This is the smallest of all tit species - the Muscovy bird. A wonderful songbird, faithful to her soul mate until death, completely trusting a person in conditions of captivity - that’s what she is, a bird, looking like a quick gray shadow.
The black tit is not a “metropolitan” resident
The name of the bird inevitably evokes associations with the capital of our state. Meanwhile, there is no connection between the feathered and the main city of the country. Moreover, Moskovka was originally a “maskovka”, and all because of his cap, which resembles a mask on his head. As a result of some wonderful transformations, the first vowel “a” changed to “o” and now we have what we have.
This bird's mask cap is painted black, like the shirtfront on its chest. Tiny body, weighing no more than 10 g and height up to 12 cm , the plumage color is similar to its larger relative - the great tit. But the shades of its flowers are dim, even faded, without the cheerful yellow coloring of the round belly:
- a black head with a perky tuft on the top;
- white cheeks (in young people they are slightly yellow before they grow up);
- the feathers of the back and tail are bluish-brown;
- belly off-white;
- barrel is light gray, with a reddish tint;
- bluish-brown wings with two distinct transverse white stripes;
- mischievous black beady eyes.
Due to the abundance of black plumage, the Muscovy is also called the black tit, and this nickname suits it very well. The bird is distinguished from other representatives of the large tit family by a white spot, clearly visible on the back of the head. This baby has a very fast heart, its contraction frequency is 1200 beats per minute.
Habitat of Muscovy or Where is the bird's father's house
The black tit loves coniferous forests most of all, but in fact it also settles in mixed forests, especially during cold periods, and even in orchards. And she is a frequent visitor to feeders, although she avoids humans.
In Russia, the bird has spread throughout the entire territory, from the western borders to the Kamchatka Peninsula. In other parts of the world, it is a permanent resident throughout the Eurasian continent, in northwestern Tunisia and the Atlas Mountains, in the Japanese, Sicilian islands, Corsica and Great Britain.
In large populated areas can settle in city parks and forest parks on the outskirts. There are especially many of them near human habitation during the winter nomadic period when there is a bountiful harvest of pine and spruce cones.
Menu and taste preferences
The fact that the bird chooses coniferous forests for habitat is quite understandable. She loves to feast on coniferous seeds, and in autumn and winter this is almost her only type of food. Sometimes the bird is forced to look for seeds in cones under the trees, right on the ground. And this is a completely unsafe activity for the baby.
In the warm season, the mini tit looks for larvae in tree bark, absorbs caterpillars, bugs, small butterflies and dragonflies, and aphids. In autumn, juniper berries add variety to the menu.
The Muscovite woman is not one of those who entrusts her life to blind luck. When the time of food abundance comes, she thriftily hides her future lunches in different secluded corners. Seeds, dried berries, insects - everything will come in handy in a cold and hungry winter.
Features of the little black warbler
All tit tribes are very active, including Muscovites. They prefer to live in one place. If they do roam, it is only nearby, and only if necessary to find food. Many birds return later if the food problem is solved.
Bird flocks are small, 50 birds. Although Siberian titmice sometimes form gatherings of up to 1000 individuals. They may also include other species of birds: pikas, warblers, tufted titmice.
Muscovites are very talented. From February to September, with pleasure and amazing skill, they give wonderful concerts, choosing the top of some tree with as a “stage” good review around. Melodic trills cannot be described in ordinary words; for this you need to hear divine sounds. If a bird is worried about something, its gentle melody turns into an alarmed chirping with plaintive and chirping notes.
Mating season and reproduction
When a Muscovite couples up, she is devoted to her partner until the end of her days. Males announce the onset of mating season at the end of the first spring month. Having marked the boundaries of the territory with loud singing, the grooms begin to lure the ladies.
The male's courtship is very interesting. First, he shows the chosen one his readiness to tie the knot with a smooth soaring. Moving in the air, he puffs up his short tail with all his might and spreads his wings. All body movements are accompanied by very melodic trills. Such an ardent display of feelings never goes unnoticed. A feathered society cell has been created!
Narrow openings are suitable for creating a family nest: hollows, abandoned holes of small rodents, crevices in stumps or rocks. The Muscovite woman does not trust anyone, not even her spouse, to arrange a cradle for future chicks. She single-handedly carefully insulates and softens the nest with moss, scraps of wool and fluff, feathers and even remnants of cobwebs.
Two clutches (5 to 13 eggs) occur April-May and June. Miniature eggs white with brick specks, the parent incubates for 2 weeks. Then one day tiny black tit babies appear, almost naked, only slightly sprinkled with fluff. gray on the head and back.
Feeding mother and chicks - this is the male's concern. Only after a few days does the spouse begin to leave the nest in search of food. The chicks grow quickly and by the end of the third week they try to fly out of the parental home. In the fall, keeping up with the adults, they join the flock until the next spring. The average life expectancy of Muscovite women is 9 years.
How does a Muscovite get along with a person?
On free ranges, the black tit is not very fond of people; it sits on feeders reluctantly and warily. But despite this, the bird very quickly adapts to life in a cage. It is not difficult to keep her in captivity; she quickly gets used to human habitation, and a couple of weeks later she takes food directly from the palm of her hand without fear. If you spend a lot of time with the baby, don’t frighten her with sudden movements and talk affectionately, then the black tit will become tame; it turns out that she is a very trusting creature. Moreover, they are the only titmouses who are not burdened by “cellular” life.
And although nature did not reward the little gray lump with special external characteristics, her musical talent is worthy of the most sincere admiration. Even the well-known canaries, which are kept specifically for the pleasure of their ears, learning to sing from a homely little birdie. To do this, she is specially placed in an aviary with songbirds, and they, listening to her trills, adopt the baby’s repertoire. In general, almost all types of tits are very musical. But Muscovy birds, although their vocal abilities are similar to great tits, sing more quickly and hit notes much higher.
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