African Blue Tit

cyanistes teneriffae

The African Blue Tit (Cyanistes teneriffae) is a charismatic and lively little passerine native to North Africa and the Canary Islands. Historically classified alongside its European cousin, the Eurasian Blue Tit, this species is distinguished by its strikingly dark ultramarine cap, deep cobalt blue upperparts, and vivid yellow underparts. Highly active and social, these birds are a delight to watch as they flit restlessly through the canopy, often performing acrobatic loops and hanging upside down to glean insects from foliage. Their presence is easily marked by their high-pitched, metallic trills and scolding calls. Over millions of years, the isolated environments of the Canary Islands have led to the divergence of several distinct subspecies, each uniquely adapted to its specific island home. This evolutionary divergence makes them highly prized by ornithologists studying island biogeography and speciation. Discover and identify species like African Blue Tit with the Snappit app.

Habitat: Typically found in Canary Island pine forests, laurel woodlands, oak forests, palm groves, and well-vegetated urban gardens.

Appearance

The African Blue Tit is a diminutive bird measuring roughly 11 to 12 cm in length, with a wingspan of 15 to 18 cm. It features a brilliant yellow belly and breast, split by a faint dark line down the center. Its most striking identifier is its deeply saturated, dark ultramarine-blue crown, back, and wings, which appear much darker than those of the Eurasian Blue Tit. A white stripe wraps around its crown, contrasting sharply with a black eye-stripe and white cheeks. The legs are bluish-grey, and the short, stout beak is perfectly adapted for foraging.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyParidaeGenusCyanistes

African Blue Tit

Interesting facts

On some dry islands, these resourceful birds have been observed sipping sweet nectar from local flowers, acting as minor pollinators.

They were long considered a subspecies of the Eurasian Blue Tit, but genetic analysis proved they diverged millions of years ago.

Unlike mainland tits that lay up to 12 eggs, Canary Island populations lay smaller clutches of 3 to 6 eggs to match resource availability.

Special abilities

Capable of foraging upside down on the thin outer twigs of trees to reach hidden insects and pine seeds.

Has developed distinct bill shapes across various Canary Islands to match the specific size and structure of local flora.

Employs a wide array of high-pitched whistles and alarm calls tailored to warn of aerial versus terrestrial predators.

Measurements & details

Length: 11+ cm
Wingspan: 15+ cm
Weight: 0.009+ kg
Lifespan: 1+ years
Top Speed: 30 km/h
Clutch Size: 3+
Incubation: 13+ days

Diet & Feeding

Principally feeds on insects, spiders, and larvae during the breeding season, shifting to seeds, fruits, and nectar during the winter months.

Age differences: Chicks are fed an exclusive diet of soft caterpillars rich in proteins, whereas adults consume a mixed diet of insects, seeds, and seasonal nectar.