Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Southern Black Tit (Melaniparus niger)
Southern Black Tit

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

The Southern Black Tit, known scientifically as Melaniparus niger, presents a striking figure with its almost entirely monotone plumage. This bird, unlike its Northern Hemisphere counterparts or other local species, exhibits a subtle sexual dimorphism. The males are a distinctive blue-black, while the females tend to be a more subdued greyish tone.

Identification Tips

When observing these birds, one can note that they lack the white rim in their tail, a feature that distinguishes them from the White-winged Tit and Carp's Tit. They measure approximately 16 centimeters in length, including their tail, which is a helpful size reference for identification in the field.

Habitat

The Southern Black Tit is native to woodland habitats in southern Africa, favoring areas dominated by broad-leaved trees such as miombo, Combretum species, and Burkea africana.

Distribution

This species is found in a semicircular arc from Angola to the Eastern Cape in South Africa. It is particularly abundant in the woodlands of western Zimbabwe, where densities can reach up to fifty birds per square kilometer.

Behaviour

The Southern Black Tit is known for its voracious consumption of insects, particularly wasps, within its preferred habitat. It has also been observed partaking in nectar and fruiting figs, which is somewhat unusual for a bird of the Paridae family.

Song & Calls

Unfortunately, the source does not provide information on the song and calls of the Southern Black Tit.

Breeding

Breeding for this species occurs during the summer wet season, with the timing of initiation varying greatly depending on rainfall consistency. The Southern Black Tit's breeding strategy is adapted to its environment, with most males remaining in their parental territory for several years to assist in rearing the typically three nestlings produced under favorable conditions. The breeding female, who incubates for fifteen days, will mimic venomous snakes to protect her nest from predators.

Similar Species

The Southern Black Tit can be confused with the White-winged Tit and Carp's Tit but can be differentiated by the absence of a white rim on its tail.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Southern Black Tit is primarily insectivorous, with a particular penchant for wasps. It also occasionally consumes nectar and figs.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Southern Black Tit as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.

Longevity

Data on the longevity of the Southern Black Tit are scarce due to few recoveries from ringing. However, it is believed that the adult mortality rate is much lower than that of its European and North American relatives.

Taxonomy

The Southern Black Tit was once grouped within the genus Parus but has since been reclassified to the genus Melaniparus following a molecular phylogenetic analysis in 2013, which revealed that it forms a distinct clade within the family.

Southern Black Tit Sounds

β€Œ
Recorded by: © 
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Southern Black Tits on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Tits, Chickadees

A photo of a Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus)

Black-crested Titmouse

Baeolophus atricristatus
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Emcil24
A Friendly Place
I love using the bird app, I have a pretty good knowledge of birds. But I do have some gaps in it, so it’s nice to have a safe space to check on a sighting to confirm the species. It’s really enjoyable and I love the badges you can collect. It’s like a real life PokΓ©mon go.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter πŸ˜ƒ
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright Β© 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.