Northern Willow Tit
Poecile montanus borealis (de Sélys-Longchamps, 1843)(1, 0)
Photo © Pixabay
Sub-species
STATUS
Palearctic.
OVERVIEW
Record as per BOU (1971). A review (2010) carried out by BOURC (Ibis 152: 203) found the Gloucestershire record still acceptable as the first of this race. Two other records mentioned in the above Status book were uncertain and finally found not proven in 1979 (British Birds 72: 538).
RECORD
1). 1907 Gloucestershire Tetbury, shot, March, now at the Natural History Museum, Tring.
British Birds 2: 277; M. Limbert, British Birds 77: 123; BOURC (2010), Ibis 152: 203).
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 277, says: 'An undoubted example of the Northern Marsh-Tit (Parus borealis De Selys) was shot at Tetbury, Gloucestershire, in March, 1907, by Mr. J. H. Paddock, who presented it to the British Museum. I had the pleasure of exhibiting this bird at the meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club held on November 18th, 1908 (cf. Bull. B.O.C., XXIII. p. 34)....'
After a review it was still admitted nationally (BOURC (2010) Ibis 152: 203).
NOT PROVEN
0). 1908 Hertfordshire Welwyn, four/five, seen, 12th January.
(W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, British Birds 2: 277-278; M. Lambert, Naturalist 106: 75-76; M. Limbert, British Birds 77: 123).
[M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 538].
History W. R. Ogilvie-Grant (1909) in British Birds, Vol. II. pp. 277-278, says: '...In January, 1908, I observed a small lot of four or five Marsh-Tits, undoubtedly of this species, at Welwyn, Herts. My attention was first attracted by their Linnet-like song, composed of a number of broken ascending notes, entirely different to the call of the common Marsh Tit. I watched the birds at very close range, and had no doubt in my own mind that they were Scandinavian Marsh Tits, the white sides of the face and the pale upper-parts being very conspicuous. I was, however, unable to procure a specimen; and, although I wrote to Mr. H. F. Witherby, describing my experience, I did not venture to place my observations on record until receiving this undoubted example of P. borealis from Mr. Paddock. It is difficult to account for the appearance of this North-west European Titmouse in Great Britain, for, so far as is at present known, it is not a migratory species. It must now, however, be added to the list of our accidental visitors.'
M. Limbert (1981) in The Naturalist, Vol. CVI. p. 75, says: 'On two further occasions, details have been published of possible sightings of borealis. Ogilvie-Grant (1908, 1908a) reported a group of titmice at Welwyn (Hertfordshire) on 12 January 1908 which he believed were of this race (published then as Northern Marsh-Tit P. borealis). His attention was first drawn to them by their 'Linnet-like song, composed of a number of broken, ascending notes'. Of the four or five individuals present, two sang the song described. Ogilvie-Grant commented on three features of the birds: flanks as pale as the breast, pale upperparts and white cheeks.'
0). 1935 Fair Isle No locality, seen, 3rd November.
(G. Waterston, Scottish Naturalist 57: 74; M. Lambert, Naturalist 106: 75-76; M. Limbert, British Birds 77: 123).
[M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 72: 538].
History G. Waterston (1937) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LVII. p. 74, says: 'G.S. observed a bird of this species on 3rd November 1935 which was accompanied by three Continental Blue Tits. The outstanding feature of this bird was the pure white on the sides of the neck and cheeks. Unfortunately the bird was not examined in the hand. The Northern race of this species has not yet been recorded in Scotland.'
M. Limbert (1984) in British Birds, Vol. LXXVII. p. 123, in a Letter, says: 'To the end of 1975, British records of Willow Tits Parus montanus showing characters of races other than the British endemic race kleinschmidti were exceedingly few: one shot at Tetbury, Gloucestershire, in March 1907, one at Minsmere, Suffolk, in September 1974, and one on Thome Moors, South Yorkshire, in February 1975. All showed characters of the 'northern' race borealis. Of the two records in the 1970s, only that from Thorne was submitted to the Rarities Committee, though from available evidence (H.E. Axell in litt.) there can be little doubt about the racial identity of the Minsmere tit. Accordingly, on the most recent occasion that the status of borealis in Britain was reviewed (Brit. Birds 72: 538), the official British total was put at two (Tetbury and Thorne), which remains unaltered to the present. There have been two other records of possible borealis published in the past: at Welwyn, Hertfordshire, in January 1908 and on Fair Isle, Shetland, in November 1935 (Naturalist 106: 75-76).
Despite the meagre submission to the Rarities Committee, records of extralimital races of this species in Britain have been recently published elsewhere from time to time. In Yorkshire, for example, a bird of the 'larger, pale Northern form' was noted at Fairburn Ings in May 1978, two of the 'larger pale Scandinavian form P.m. borealis' were seen at Skipwith Common in December 1981, and one 'showing characters of the North European form P. m. rhenanus' was seen at Seaton Ross, also in December 1981. Only the Skipwith birds are under review by the Rarities Committee.
Several points arise from this. It seems that some claimed records of non-British races of Willow Tits are not being submitted, for whatever reasons, to undergo the scrutiny accorded other birds of equal apparent rarity. The possibility of borealis (at least) occurring here is perhaps not fully appreciated by field workers and ringers, so that the true status of this and other vagrant races is not satisfactorily established.
A review of all claimed records, following an official appeal in British Birds, for any not seen by the Rarities Committee, would allow available details to be assessed before they are lost in the passage of time.'
