Tits and chickadees | |
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Crested Tit | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
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Family: | Paridae Vigors, 1825 |
Genera | |
5-10, see text. | |
Global range (In green) | |
Synonyms | |
see text |
The Paridae is a family of tiny birds, the tits (called 'chickadees' or 'titmice' in North America). They are passerine songbirds which are native to the northern hemisphere and Africa. Most of them used to be classified in the genus Parus, which has now been split up.
These birds are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They range in length from 10 to 22 centimetres. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.