The Marsh Tit and The Willow Tit: (Poyser Monographs)

'A superb account of the ecology and behaviour of two declining bird species whose lives are intimately shaped by their woodland habitats.' – Rob Fuller 'There can surely be nobody else as richly qualified as Richard Broughton to write this definitive work on the natural history of these two fascinating species.' – Prof Ben Sheldon The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit are two small birds of woodlands and forests extending from Great Britain to Japan. They are resourceful, resilient, vocal and bold. Both species are an important part of our natural heritage and are sentinels of our wooded ecosystems, sensitive to habitat changes that send their populations into decline and signalling problems in these precious habitats. In this first monograph for either species, Richard Broughton reveals the intricacies of the remarkable lives of these birds, bringing together decades of personal study and a detailed review of the wider research from Europe and Asia. We learn about each species' taxonomy, communication, food and foraging patterns, habitats, social organisation, breeding behaviour and dispersal, as well as exploring the challenges they face and their future prospects. With more than 150 illustrations, including unique maps, charts and colour photographs, The Marsh Tit and The Willow Tit brings together a wealth of information surrounding these fascinating species and considers how we can better understand and conserve them.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. Marsh Tits and Willow Tits – similar yet different 2. Communication 3. Habitat 4. Food and foraging 5. Social organisation, territories and home-ranges 6. Breeding 7. Dispersal and movements 8. Survival and longevity 9. Conservation conclusions Appendices References Acknowledgements Index

About the Author :
Richard Broughton is a research ecologist with expertise in birds, mammals, forests and farmland in Great Britain and Europe. He completed a Masters degree in GIS at the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in Marsh Tit ecology at Bournemouth University, joining the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology at Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire before relocating to Oxfordshire. Richard has studied Marsh Tits, Willow Tits and their habitats in detail for more than 25 years.

Review :
A fascinating mixture of the results of detailed studies and occasional charming anecdotes; I learnt something from almost every page … this title is not an academic treatise, but an eminently readable book, well up to the standard of the famous Poyser series and one that will appeal to everyone interested in birds. A significant and important addition to the acclaimed Poyser catalogue … This superb book is an eminently worthy culmination of Richard Broughton's painstaking work to date. It is a very comprehensively researched study that will not only thoroughly enlighten the reader but also throws considerable light on the effects our continuous exploitation of the landscape is having on woodland birds. A superb account of the ecology and behaviour of two declining bird species whose lives are intimately shaped by their woodland habitats. The information contained in this thoroughly researched book will surely help in developing strategies to conserve these and other woodland species. There can surely be nobody else as richly qualified as Richard Broughton to write this definitive work on the natural history of these two fascinating species of birds. This is a very readable, attractive and clear account. A strength of the book appears to be a very thorough knowledge of non-UK studies of the two species and of other titmice.