Abstract
Abstract. We investigated the winter social organisation of a population of British Marsh Tits, using radio-tracking, colour-ringing, and analysis of spatial and social relationships. The observed social structure was defined by adults and juveniles occupying individual but partially-overlapping home-ranges, with typical groups of 2–3 birds (maximum of 9 birds) having a changeable composition. There was no evidence of exclusive territoriality among individuals or groups during the winter, and no evidence of stable social groups with a consistent membership. Instead, the major social units detected were male-female pairs, with mostly casual associations between other individuals. Individual home-ranges averaged 31 ha (10-63 ha, n = 9) and their core areas overlapped with each other by an average 14% (0-65%), indicating that Marsh Tits in this population had very large spatial habitat requirements during winter. Our results have relevance for Marsh Tit conservation, and also the understanding of the drivers...
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