A Bearded Reedling also known as a Bearded Tit is NOT actually a member of the Tit family
but of the Babbler family in which its closest relatives are to be found (such as the Pekin Robin a delightful small babbler once commonly found throughout South Asia and with populations to be found in Hawaii, California, Florida, Australia and several over Pacific Islands).
Small numbers of Bearded Reedlings breed in this country on a reguler basis though they are badly affected by bad weather which can decimate their numbers. Indiginous to well established marshes and reed beds such as those located in the Norfolk broads they have established other colonies through out the country which seem to rise and decline based on weather conditions. There is still much to learn about Bearded Reedlings and new information is constantly being recorded, the diet seems to be something that is debatable and is not identicle from all recorded sources. These birds are kept in increasing numbers in captivity both in Britain and on the Continent and as such are providing invaluable data in the rearing of this species. Some record this species as totally insectivourous whilst others regard them as omnivourous for part of the year *winter)and insectivourous the remainder of the year. This is a bird well worth reading about and observing in the wild.
