tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post653668894666265855..comments2023-12-04T06:47:17.568+01:00Comments on Discovering Alpine Birds: Birding Tips 4: Willow Tits and Marsh TitsDale Forbeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17898040644854359126noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-70181952326102671542009-06-18T14:28:17.920+02:002009-06-18T14:28:17.920+02:00great catch with the Willow Tit and Marsh Tit, it...great catch with the Willow Tit and Marsh Tit, it is really sharp and crisp. Love to see some much details posted on these beautiful birds.Wai Yienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17518444637691770720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-31474815830113102602009-04-09T10:36:00.000+02:002009-04-09T10:36:00.000+02:00Ya, what you say makes complete sense. there reall...Ya, what you say makes complete sense. there really are a lot of cases where anecdotal evidence and speculation slowly work their way in to "common knowledge" without any real basis. One of my academic colleagues used to say, "hear something wayward once and it is a rumour, hear it twice and it becomes a theory, hear it a third time and it is fact"<BR/><BR/>But I do believe that the whole fat neck thing is a fairly decent guide (when used in combination with other indicators) to Marsh/Willow Tit ID, particularly when one has plenty of experience with both.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and do you have some good reference material on the Boreal/southern origin of the two species, I would love to read up a little more about itDale Forbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17898040644854359126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-90692784130922370972009-04-08T22:17:00.000+02:002009-04-08T22:17:00.000+02:00It's impossible to discern anything about muscle j...It's impossible to discern anything about muscle just by looking at a bird, as they're covered in feathers. Just as you cannot tell a fat bird from a thin bird by eye. It was an assumption that got into print in the dark ages and has been repeated since. It makes very little sense when you think about it, seeing as Marsh Tits are also (partial-)excavators that habitually excavate. It's just that they never initiate cavities from scratch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-73875054956705079512009-04-08T16:24:00.000+02:002009-04-08T16:24:00.000+02:00well then, Anonymous, I suppose it must just be a ...well then, Anonymous, I suppose it must just be a [non]urban myth then, widely repeated wherever you look.<BR/>Thank you for your comment and insight.<BR/>DDale Forbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17898040644854359126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-82611749198314647582009-04-07T14:38:00.000+02:002009-04-07T14:38:00.000+02:00Willow Tit has no physical adaptions for excavatin...Willow Tit has no physical adaptions for excavating a hole - it does not have a 'thicker' or 'sturdier' neck for that purpose. It has no more muscular neck than marsh tit. The reason why it can look more bull-necked is that the feathers are longer and more dense on willow tit (a boreal species in origin) than marsh tit (a more southerly species). But it is a very unreliable character.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-61311963746380203432009-04-01T14:07:00.000+02:002009-04-01T14:07:00.000+02:00no, all of the images in the blog are, in fact, of...no, all of the images in the blog are, in fact, of chickadees. I believe it is called neo-collonialism. the chickadees are moving back over to the old countries to take over. they are disguised as tits to blend in. when there are enough of them they will put in to action their wicked plans<BR/><BR/>haaa haa haa<BR/>(wicked laugh)Dale Forbeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17898040644854359126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3183715504165424635.post-32532817003335352512009-04-01T14:01:00.000+02:002009-04-01T14:01:00.000+02:00Very educational. I most likely would have glanced...Very educational. I most likely would have glanced at either of them and took them for chickadees since we don't have tits here. I really love the charming little birds. This time of year I'm trying to see a golden-crowned kinglet.Shady Characterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17522626839086685428noreply@blogger.com