Blue "Crossbill" Tit

Crossbill Tit

Bog Standard Male Blue Tit

For a couple of months now, we've noticed a very scruffy Blue Tit making swift visits to the feeders, before it gets set upon by the other 4 regulars. The feathers, especially on the breast, seem to be in a terrible state, but it was only the other day when it was snatching a quiet moment in the sunshine preening after a bath, that its beak could be observed. The upper mandible is clearly elongated and curves downwards, but the lower mandible is also slightly longer than normal and curves upwards. It may be that it is the disfigured bill, which has caused it problems cleaning itself. It is possible at times to see the naked bleeding breast, so it will be interesting to see if this bird survives the present cold snap, which must add to the pressures of birds like this surviving the winter. If it does survive it will be fascinating to see if it manages to moult into a more tidy set of feathers, or whether the deformed beak proves to be a major handicap in attaining normality. People in the Hull Valley area may get some unusual visitors in this snowy weather, so please send any interesting records to me. Thanks.