Southern Grey Tit

By Charlie • December 21, 2006 • No comments yet

(Southern) Grey Tit Parus afer
Tanqua Karoo, South Africa. December 2006

Endemic to fynbos and karoo regions of southern Africa, the (Southern) Grey Tit (its northern counterpart, P. thruppi, is now more often called Acacia Tit, and subsequently the ‘Southern’ modifier is often dropped) is quite common and typically seen in pairs or small flocks roaming over rocky areas (or around human habitation) in arid areas.

The bill of this species is noticeably heavy compared with probably more familiar northern hemisphere tit species like eg Great or Willow Tits, but the loud, clear “cheree, cheree” call and typical plumage pattern makes the Grey Tit’s ancestry abundantly clear.

(Southern) Grey Tit

• Tags: karroo, south-africa, tits

• Looking for a good book or field guide? We've got some suggestions... •

Explore These Related Posts

...Or These Blasts From The Past

About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?