Coal Tit
Parus ater
The Coal Tit is a small insectivorous bird, recognizable by the black head with white cheeks and a small patch of the same color on the neck. It is a bird associated with forest habitats, but that occurs in urban parks and gardens as well. In Portugal it is one of the most common species in several pine forests of northern and central regions.
The scientific name of the Coal Tit has this meaning: Parus is Latin for “titmouse” or “little bird” and gives the name to the Paridae family, which also includes to the blue and great tit; ater means “black”, “dark”, alluding to the color of its head.
Text: João E. Rabaça