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Great Tit

Parus major

Least Concern
This bold, charismatic songbird, with its bold black stripe and yellow belly, is a common sight in gardens and woodlands across Eurasia.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

14cm to 16cm

Wingspan

24cm to 26cm

Weight

14g to 22g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Yellow Green Blue

Secondary Colour

White Black Olive

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Great Tit can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Great Tit can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Great Tit is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Great Tit is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Great Tit can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Great Tit is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Great Tit is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Great Tit is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Great Tit is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Great Tit is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Great Tit is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Great Tit is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 4,420 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Great 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
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Cambodia China Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Egypt Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Hong Kong Hungary Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malaysia Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Nepal Netherlands North Korea Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria Tajikistan Thailand The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Vietnam
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Iceland Malta Taiwan

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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 85

Agility

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

Great Tits are highly agile birds, known for their acrobatic foraging behaviour. They're often seen hanging upside down from branches and can manoeuvre swiftly through trees and shrubs, demonstrating excellent aerial dexterity.

Strength 40

Strength

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

While not particularly strong for their size, Great Tits possess adequate strength for their lifestyle. They can crack open seeds and nuts, and their ability to use tools like pine needles suggests some degree of physical capability.

Adaptability 95

Adaptability

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

Great Tits show remarkable adaptability. They thrive in various habitats from woodlands to urban areas, adjust their diet seasonally, and demonstrate problem-solving skills. Their ability to learn new behaviours, such as opening milk bottles, further highlights their adaptability.

Aggressiveness 60

Aggressiveness

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

Great Tits are relatively bold and can be aggressive in defending their territories and nests. They establish social hierarchies, which involves some aggressive displays. However, they're not considered overly aggressive compared to many other bird species.

Endurance 70

Endurance

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

Great Tits demonstrate good endurance, particularly during the breeding season when they continuously forage to feed their chicks. Their ability to survive harsh winters in temperate and subarctic climates also suggests a fair level of endurance.

Diet

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.

Behaviour

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.

Vocalisation

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.

Nesting & Breeding

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.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

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.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

430,300,000 - 710,000,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Great Tits in gardens, parks, and woodlands
  • Listen for their distinctive 'teacher-teacher' call
  • Observe feeders, as they readily visit bird tables and nut feeders
  • Watch for their acrobatic foraging behaviour in trees
  • In the UK, participate in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch to contribute to population monitoring

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Kohlmeise, Mésange charbonnière

Family:

Paridae

Average Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Predators

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.

Did You Know?

  1. Great Tits can learn to recognise and avoid toxic prey by observing other birds.
  2. They have been observed using tools like pine needles to extract larvae from bark.
  3. In some urban areas, Great Tits have learned to open milk bottle tops to drink the cream.

FAQs

How to attract Great Tits?

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.

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2016. Parus major. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22735990A87431138.

    View source
  2. 3

    report, 2007: del Hoyo et al.

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