Cinereous Tit

The cinereous tit (Parus cinereus) is a medium-sized passerine in the family Paridae, distributed across South and Southeast Asia from Pakistan and India east through Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula, and on several Indonesian islands. It inhabits a wide range of forested and wooded habitats from lowland tropical forest to foothill and montane forest, as well as gardens and cultivated areas with trees. The cinereous tit is closely related to the great tit (Parus major) of Europe and has sometimes been treated as a subspecies; the two are now recognized as distinct species based on morphological and genetic evidence. It feeds on insects, spiders, seeds, and berries, foraging actively in tree canopies and undergrowth. The species is classified as Not Evaluated by the IUCN. Populations are generally considered common across their South and Southeast Asian range. The cinereous tit adapts well to modified habitats including gardens and urban parks, making it relatively resilient to habitat change compared to more specialized forest species. It is entirely absent from Europe; database records citing Norway are artifacts of data entry error. Like other tits, it is a cavity nester, using natural holes in trees or artificial nest boxes. It is a popular species among birdwatchers in India and Southeast Asia.