Parus major
Great Tit
The Great Tit is a striking small bird with a distinctive black head and white cheeks. Its back is olive-green, wings are blue-grey with a white wing bar, and its underparts are bright yellow with a bold black stripe down the centre.
Males have a wider black belly stripe compared to females. Juveniles are duller with yellowish cheeks. There are no significant seasonal plumage changes in this species.
Length
14cm to 16cm
Wingspan
24cm to 26cm
Weight
14g to 22g
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Yellow Green Blue
Secondary Colour
White Black Olive
Beak Colour
Black
Leg Colour
Grey
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Great Tits are widely distributed across Europe, parts of the Middle East, and Asia. They inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks, gardens, and urban areas with sufficient tree cover.
They are resident year-round and common throughout the UK, adapting well to human-modified landscapes. Their range has been expanding northwards in recent decades, likely due to climate change and increased winter feeding by humans.
Up to 4,420 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
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Great Tits have a varied diet, primarily consisting of insects, spiders, and seeds.
In spring and summer, they feed heavily on caterpillars and other invertebrates. During winter, they switch to more fruit, berries and seed-based diets, readily visiting bird feeders for sunflower seeds and peanuts.
Great Tits are bold and acrobatic foragers, often seen hanging upside down from branches to reach food. They are highly adaptable and curious, and they are known for their problem-solving abilities in accessing food sources. In social settings, they establish and maintain hierarchies through vocalisations and displays.
Great Tits are known for their varied and complex vocalisations. Their most recognisable call is a clear, two-syllable 'teacher-teacher' or 'tee-cher tee-cher'. They also produce a scolding 'chur-chur-chur' when alarmed.
Males have a repertoire of over 40 different songs used in territorial defence and mate attraction.
Great Tits typically form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which begins in early spring. Males attract females with song and courtship feeding.
Nests are built in tree cavities, nest boxes, or even unusual places like letter boxes. The female constructs the nest using moss, grass, and animal hair. She lays 5-12 white eggs with reddish-brown spots.
Incubation lasts about 13-15 days, performed solely by the female. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after 18-21 days. Great Tits often produce two broods per season in favourable conditions.
years
The Great Tit typically lives for 3 to 5 years.
Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.
While the Great Tit is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces challenges from habitat loss and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable woodland habitats and providing nesting boxes in urban areas. Citizen science projects play a crucial role in monitoring population trends.
Kohlmeise, Mésange charbonnière
Main predators include sparrowhawks, domestic cats, and small mammals like weasels and squirrels. Nest predators such as woodpeckers and snakes also pose a threat to eggs and chicks.
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Great Tits are one of the UK’s most abundant garden birds and are easily attracted to food, shelter, and water. These birds frequent bird feeders, where they enjoy suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. They will happily feed from hanging feeders, bird tables, or even from the ground.
Installing a nest box in your garden is a fantastic way to attract these birds, and they may even use it for roosting in the non-breeding season. A nest box with a 28-millimetre entrance hole placed one to five meters above the ground is ideal for these lovely birds.
They also enjoy visiting water sources where they can drink and bathe. The ideal birdbath for Great Tits is an inch or so deep, but a sloping design that reaches four inches (10 cm) will attract many other bird species.
Remember to clean your birdbaths and feeders regularly to maintain hygienic conditions for our feathered friends.
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Parus major. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22735990A87431138.
View sourcereport, 2007: del Hoyo et al.