Grey Tit
Parus afer
Karoo Scrub, rocky hills and gorges. A grey-brown and black bird with tawny apearance and short tail
Tits
LC
Endemic
Description
Common, endemic resident. Similar to [Ashy Tit] but ranges largely exclusive; distinguished by habitat preference where ranges overlap. Told from [Ashy Tit] by grey-brown (not blue-grey) mantle and back, more tawny appearance and shorter tail. Sexes are alike; immature similar. The call can be likened to ‘Piet-jou-jou’. Pairs or small groups occur in Karoo scrub, dry thornveld, rocky hills and gorges; also open scrub in Lesotho highlands. A restless species, frequenting smaller trees and bushes and spending much time on the ground.
Quick Facts
Size
15 cm - S
Names
A: Piet-tjou-tjou-grysmees
G: Rotbauchmeise
Bird Family
Small insectivorous, arboreal birds with short stout bills, the nostrils obscured by bristles. They habitually forage in the tree canopies in bird parties, clambering about the branches in agile fashion and frequently feeding in inverted positions. They have rasping calls.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Similar to [Ashy Tit] but ranges largely exclusive; distinguished by habitat preference where ranges overlap. Pairs or small groups occur in 'Karoo' scrub, dry thornveld, rocky hills and gorges; also open scrub in Lesotho highlands.
