Happy Shimaenaga Day❤️

January 20th is the coldest day in winter, and the Japan Anniversary Association set this day Shima Enaga day, due to these fluffy adorable cotton ball like birds who fluff up their feathers when it is cold.  

The Shima Enaga (Aegithalos caudatus japonicus), has a uniquely all-white face, it is also a sub-species of the long-tailed bushtit. The ShimaEnaga are mostly in Japan. But they also, inhabit the entire Paleatrictic realm. The long-tailed tit is sometimes referred to as the silver-throated tit or silver-throated dasher, but my favorite is (The Snow Fairy of Hokkaido)!  They are just that sweet and adorable.  Aegithalos (long-tailed tits) are five species birds with a tail.  Psaltriparus (North America Buishtit), monotypic. Psaltriparus (pygmy bushtit), monotypic.
The long-tailed tit is insectivorous throughout the year. The Shima Enaga feed on predominantly arthropods and prefer the eggs and astronomical huge moths and butterflies, and sometimes eat vegetable matter. Outside of the breeding season, they live in flocks from about July to February of half a dozen to two dozen composed of the family (parents and offspring) from the previous breeding season, together with extra adults that help raise the brood. The reason for the flocking behavior is believed due to winter roosting as they are susceptible to cold, and they huddle for warmth on cold nights. When the breeding season begins, the flock brakes up, and the birds attempt to breed monogamous pairs. Females tend to wander into neighboring territories, while males remain within their winter territories
Spotting and Photographing the Shima Enaga can be tricky, as they are tiny and shy.  Photographing these birds is similar to the Meijiro bird also, known as the warbling white eye warbling white eye, mejiro bird (Zosterops japonicus).  I have been photographing both species for over 2 decades, and once I spot a flock, I understand their behaviour's and what spooks them, and what does not, and with a high percentage, I get gallery hanging prints.