The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Southern Black Tit
Afrikaans name: Gewone Swartmees
Photo © Steven Herbert
Parus niger
Southern Black Tits are normally found in small flocks in open woodland. They tend to be seen halfway up the trees as the forage amongst the leaves.
They are found along most of the eastern half of South Africa but they are absent from the Free State.
Insects form the main part of their diet, and in particular wasps, but they also eat fruit and nectar.
The female Southern Black Tit does most of the work when it comes to breeding. She makes the nest and lays up to 6 eggs. She then incubes them for about 2 weeks. She leaves the nest at times to go and feed. Once the chicks hatch then the male and other "helper" birds from the flock assist with feeding them.
Roberts Birds Names by Edition
| Edition | Roberts nr | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 527 | Parus niger |
| 2nd | 527 | Parus niger |
| 3rd | 527 | Parus niger |
| 4th | 527 | Parus niger |
| 5th | 554 | Parus niger |
| 6th | 554 | Parus niger |
| 7th | 586 | Melaniparus niger |
| Edition | Roberts nr | English name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 527 | Natal Black Tit |
| 2nd | 527 | Black Tit |
| 3rd | 527 | Southern Black Tit |
| 4th | 527 | Southern Black Tit |
| 5th | 554 | Southern Black Tit |
| 6th | 554 | Southern Black Tit |
| 7th | 586 | Southern Black Tit |
| Edition | Roberts nr | Afrikaans name |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 527 | Swart-mees |
| 2nd | 527 | Swart Mees |
| 3rd | 527 | Suidelike Swart Mees |
| 4th | 527 | Suidelike Swart Mees |
| 5th | 554 | Gewone Swartmees |
| 6th | 554 | Gewone Swartmees |
References and further reading
The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 56The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 218
Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 181
Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 103
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 294
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 308
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 480
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 373
Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 486
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 359
Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 279
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 308
Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 230
Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 308
Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 412
Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 216
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 158
Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 104
Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 88
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 69
Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 181
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 73
Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 197
Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 166
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 40
A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 40
A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 215
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