Crested Tit Parus cristatus scoticus unique bird of the Scottish Caledonian Pine woods. SCO 7098.
The crested tit occurs from the Iberian Peninsula, France and Scotland across Europe and western Russia to the Ural Mountains. Within that, its range stretches from about latitude 66∞ N in Scandinavia to the mountains of northern Greece and the Balkans. The population in Scotland is geographically isolated from those on mainland Europe, and the differences between the populations have resulted in the Scottish birds being classified as a distinct subspecies (Parus cristatus scoticus). Other subspecies have been identified in western France and the Iberian Peninsula. In Scotland, the crested tit is confined to Caledonian pine forest remnants and pine plantations in Easter Ross, the Beauly catchment (which includes Glen Affric), Strathspey and the Moray Firth coast. It is missing from some of the ancient pinewood remnants, including those on Deeside and at Rannoch, but the reasons for this are not clear, as suitable habitat exists there. The poor dispersal ability of the species has been suggested as one possible reason for this - the geographical isolation of the forest fragments has resulted in large gaps of treeless ground which the birds are unable to cross in sufficient numbers.
Size: 5050px × 4155px
Location: Scottish Abernethy Forests, Strathspey, Highland, Scotland. UK
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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