Coal Tit

Periparus ater

Least Concern
This tiny dynamo of the forest flits through evergreen branches, its distinctive white nape patch flashing as it acrobatically searches for insects and seeds.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Coal Tit is a small bird, characterised by its black cap, white nape patch, and distinctive white cheek patches. Its upperparts are bluish-grey, while the underparts are buff to pale grey, creating a subtle contrast.

Both sexes look alike, with juveniles closely resembling adults but with slightly duller plumage.

Size

Length

10cm to 11.5cm

Wingspan

17cm to 21cm

Weight

8g to 10g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black Grey

Secondary Colour

White Buff

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Blue-grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Coal Tit can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Coal Tit can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Coal Tit is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Coal Tits are widely distributed across Europe and Asia, with a strong preference for coniferous and mixed woodlands. They are particularly abundant in areas with spruce, pine, and fir trees, providing food and nesting sites.

In the UK, Coal Tits are resident year-round and can be found in suitable habitats throughout the country, including gardens adjacent to woodlands. Their range extends from lowland to mountainous regions, adapting to various forest types.

Elevation Range

Up to 4,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Coal Tit. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria China Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary India Iran Ireland Israel Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Nepal Netherlands North Korea Norway Pakistan Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 95

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Coal Tit is exceptionally agile, renowned for its acrobatic ability to hang upside down whilst foraging. Its rapid movements through coniferous forests and quick darting at bird feeders demonstrate remarkable agility for its size.

Strength 20

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a tiny bird weighing only 8-10 grams, the Coal Tit's strength is limited. However, it possesses enough strength to manipulate seeds and small insects, and to excavate nesting sites in soft wood or earth.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Coal Tits show high adaptability, thriving in various woodland habitats from sea level to 4,500 metres elevation. Their ability to cache food, join mixed-species flocks, and even imitate other birds' calls indicates significant adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness 30

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While not particularly aggressive, Coal Tits can be assertive in defending their territory and food caches. They produce chattering sounds during disputes, but overall, their social nature and tendency to flock with other species suggest low aggression.

Endurance 70

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Despite their small size, Coal Tits demonstrate considerable endurance. Their ability to survive harsh winters, forage continuously, and cache up to 800 food items daily indicates robust stamina. However, their short lifespan of 2-3 years suggests some limitations to their overall endurance.

Diet

Coal Tits primarily feed on small insects, spiders, and seeds. Their diet shifts seasonally, with a greater emphasis on insects during the breeding season and more seeds in winter. They are excellent at extracting seeds from conifer cones and are frequent visitors to bird feeders.

Behaviour

Coal Tits are remarkably agile, often seen hanging upside down from branches while foraging. They are known for their 'hoarding' behaviour, storing seeds in bark crevices for later consumption.

They are highly social and frequently join mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season, enhancing their foraging efficiency and predator awareness.

Vocalisation

The Coal Tit's call is a high-pitched, thin 'tsee-tsee-tsee' or 'pitchou', often repeated rapidly. Their song is a simple but melodious trill, typically described as 'tee-chu-chu-chu'. During territorial disputes, they produce a distinctive rapid chattering sound.

Nesting & Breeding

Coal Tits typically form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which begins in late April or early May. Males court females with a combination of song and displays, often offering food as part of the courtship ritual.

Nests are usually built in tree holes, crevices, or ground, lined with moss, hair, and feathers. The female lays 7-11 small white eggs with reddish-brown speckles.

Incubation lasts about 14-16 days, and it is primarily performed by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 16-19 days but continue to receive parental care for several weeks after that.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Coal Tits face challenges from habitat loss due to deforestation and climate change.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining diverse forest habitats and promoting sustainable forestry practices to ensure the species' long-term survival.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

90,000,000 - 164,999,999 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Coal Tits in coniferous forests and mixed woodlands
  • Listen for their distinctive 'pitchou' call, which is higher-pitched than other tit species
  • Observe bird feeders, where they often dart in quickly to grab seeds
  • In the UK, watch for them in gardens, especially those near wooded areas

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Cole Tit

Family:

Paridae

Average Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Predators

Coal Tits are preyed upon by various small raptors such as Sparrowhawks and Merlins, as well as domestic cats in urban and suburban areas.

Did You Know?

  1. Coal Tits have been observed imitating the calls of other bird species, possibly as a defence mechanism.
  2. They can store up to 800 food items daily, remembering numerous cache locations.
  3. Coal Tits have a special adaptation that allows them to hold food under their tongue while foraging.

References

  1. 1 2 3

    website: BirdLife International. 2017. Periparus ater (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T22735965A118835425.

    View source

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