Fun Bearded Reedling Facts For Kids

Also popular as the bearded tit, the bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) is a small reedbed bird species. These birds draw close resemblances in appearance with the bearded parrotbill or the long-tailed tit. However, studies show that they might be related to the Alaudidae family of larks. The Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus was the first to introduce the bearded tit to the world through his book, the 10th edition of Systema Naturae that came out in 1758. The species was initially grouped under the Parus genus (with the other tits). After extensive research, the bird has been regrouped under the Panurus genus. The name of this current genus is derived from the Greek terms 'panu' which, translates to 'exceedingly' and 'ουρά' implying 'tail', indicating the long tail of the bird. Three separate subspecies have been identified, namely Panurus biarmicus biarmicus, Panurus biarmicus russicus, and Panurus biarmicus kosswigi. These birds are the only songbirds that can be found in reedbeds all year round.

If you want to keep yourself updated with some other bird species then make sure to peek into these fascinating facts about the Amazon Parrot and Blue Jay.

What type of animal is a bearded reedling?

The bearded reedling is a passerine species belonging to the Panurus genus and Passeriformes order.

What class of animal does a bearded reedling belong to?

The sole member of the family Panuridae, bearded reedling has been categorized under the class Aves.

How many bearded reedlings are there in the world?

A global population of 3,000,000-5,999,999 adult reedbed tits has been estimated, while the current European breeding population of the species is in the range of 232,000-437,000 pairs. No trend could be ascertained due to fluctuations in the population distribution throughout the world. However, some threats have been identified that jeopardize the existence of the species. One of the significant threats is habitat loss.

Where does a bearded reedling live?

The bearded reedling range map encompasses Europe and Palearctic. Initially, the bird could only be seen in the reedbeds of Britain but the expansion of the reedbed habitat has widened its range. Now you can get to see these birds in Morecambe Bay, northwest England, and several regions of southern and eastern England. A great abundance of these birds can be found in the reedbeds of Great Britain especially around River Tay in Scotland where more than 250 pairs can be located. The community of these birds in Ireland, particularly in County Wexford, is small but gradually increasing. Although some birds may relocate within the local range during the spine-chilling winter, the bird species is essentially resident and does not engage in long-distance migration.

What is a bearded reedling's habitat?

Bearded tits are known to inhabit wetland and freshwater habitats. Their habitat range includes rivers, ponds, swamps, lakes, and reedbeds. These birds are particularly well-suited to temperate climates of Europe and may not be able to withstand freezing cold winters like the redpolls. This is perhaps because due to the thick snow cover, they don't get access to the seeds essential for survival.

Who do bearded reedlings live with?

The bearded tit can be found dwelling in flocks and pairs. Gregarious birds can often be seen in flocks after the breeding period.

How long does a bearded reedling live?

In general, bearded reedlings survive for a very short period of about three to six years.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season commences from late March and extends till early September. Males and females usually form monogamous pairs but sometimes bigyny can be seen. Post-copulation, both males and females engage in nest construction. The nest, placed among reeds, is cup-shaped built with plant leaves and reed blades, ornamented with feathers and reed-heads. The clutch consists of 3 - 11 eggs. Both males and females take turns incubating the eggs for 10 - 14 days. These birds can raise up to four broods annually.

What is their conservation status?

As per the data presented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) of the Passeriformes order belongs to the Least Concern group owing to its abundance across its geographical range.

What do bearded reedlings look like?

The bearded tit is known to be sexually dimorphic. The bird comes in a plump, round body with orange-brown plumage. There're traces of ash-gray or blue-gray on the sides of the head and neck. The long tail and black mustache render these birds a distinct identity. Only the male displays the black mustache. The base of the lower tail and lores are black while the head of the male is gray. The female lacks a black mustache and has paler coloration. The bird possesses a yellow-orange bill. A juvenile resembles the female with buff-colored upperparts, dull underparts, greenish-yellow iris, and gray-brown bill. The wingspan of an adult is from 6.3-7 in (16-17.78 cm). These birds resemble the bearded parrotbill and the long-tailed tit in appearance.

How cute are they?

Have you come across photos of a bearded reedling bird? If you haven't already got the opportunity to behold this beautiful creation of nature then you can get a bearded reedling image. These small-sized birds are perhaps one of the cutest-looking bird species in the world. The funniest sight is that of a bearded reedling puffing up. It's hilariously adorable!

How do they communicate?

The bearded tit communicates through calls and songs. The most common calls are 'ping-ping', 'tjuu', and soft 'djipp', 'pitt pitt' sounds. A bearded reedling song is filled with melodious notes. A male song is a short 'tschin-dschik-tschraa' that lasts for some seconds. Some birds tend to sing in flight. The bird's song in summer is so uplifting!

How big is a bearded reedling?

The bearded tit measures approximately 5.7-6.5 in (14·5-16.5 cm) in length. It is smaller than the great reed warbler, one of the largest European warblers in the world, measuring around 6.3–8.3 in (16-21 cm) in length. It's also smaller than the palm warbler measuring 7.9-8.3 in (20-21 cm).

How fast can a bearded reedling fly?

Although the average flight speed of these birds has not yet been determined owing to the dearth of data, you can see a bearded reedling flying at moderate speeds sometimes fanning its long tail. These birds engage in a wavering flight in twisting motions, therefore, making them weak fliers. The upper elevation limit of the bearded tit has been observed at 10,007 ft (3,050 m).

How much does a bearded reedling weigh?

The monotypic bird species of the family Panuridae, bearded reedling has an average weight of around 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20·8 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The bearded reedling male and female are regarded as a cock and hen respectively.

What would you call a baby bearded reedling?

A baby bearded tit is referred to as a hatchling, nestling or chick.

What do they eat?

The bearded tit possesses a unique digestive system that accommodates seasonal changes in the diet around the year. These omnivorous birds primarily feast on a variety of invertebrates. In summer and spring, they normally feed on insects like reed aphids, mayflies, bugs, moths, damselflies and also snails, and spiders. During winter and fall, the diet comprises reed seeds or seeds of sedges, bulrushes, common nettle, and others. To aid the digestion of fibers of seeds, they also consume grit particles.

Are they poisonous?

Reedbed tits are nontoxic. These birds are completely harmless to humans. However, they may exhibit aggressiveness against other male competitors particularly during the breeding season.

Would they make a good pet?

The bearded tit is known to be an affectionate pet bird. You can easily find the bearded reedling for sale in several farms and pet stores all year round. The cost of a six-month-old male bearded tit is around $43. However, these birds need lots of space to fly freely so you should preferably keep these birds in an aviary. These birds also get along well with children.

Did you know...

Although the bearded tit can be seen throughout the year, they're pretty vulnerable to change in habitat and climate. Saltwater inundation and flooding of the reedbeds as well as the severe winter have often been related to the declining world populations of the species. In 1947, only four to five pairs survived the harsh winter in Suffolk while in Norfolk only a male could pull through.

What's unique about bearded reedlings?

Don't get misguided by the name, the bearded tit is not unique for its beard. This is simply because the bird doesn't have one. In fact, what makes the bird different from other birds is a pair of black mustaches. Only the males come with a mustache.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more great content, check out our Whiskered Treeswift facts and California Quail facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our sparrow coloring pages.