Long-tailed Tit Facts
Long-tailed tits are tiny birds, weighing less than a one pound coin. Their very small size makes them vulnerable to the cold, and in harsh winters, up to 80% of their population can die out. They make their nests from lichen, moss and spider egg cocoons. The spider silk makes the nest strong and flexible, able to stretch as the young bird inside grows. The nests often fail, and birds without nests will often become helpers at another nest.
Long-tailed Tit Stories
There isn't a particular story about a long-tailed tit, but one of the Grimm Fairy Tales tells of a battle between the "Tom tits" and a bear. A bear one day heard the song of the tom tit, and was told by a wolf that that was the sound of the king of the birds. He went and found the nest, and insulted the little birds inside. After that, the tom tits gathered a great army of birds against the bear, who lost the battle, and had to apologise.
Listen to a long-tailed tit here: