All About Great Tits - Great Tit Bird Facts & Information
About Great Tit birds
The Great Tit (Parus major is their scientific name) is a Passerine bird in the Tit family. With a green and bright yellow breast, white cheeks and a glossy black head these birds are easily recognisable. The Great Tit is widespread and a common name throughout Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. Across each area, there are sub species of the Great Tit such as the Turkestan Tit of Asia.
Originally a woodland bird, the Great Tit has adapted to man made habitats very well and will regularly be seen in our gardens of bird feeders. With an acrobatic nature, you may also see these small birds hopping between branches or hanging upside down to feed in our gardens.
A little vicious, sometimes you’ll find a Great Tit fighting off smaller tits species, such as its close relative the Blue Tit, on bird tables and garden feeding stations.
What do Great Tits look like?
A visually striking bird, the Great Tit is around 14 centimetres in length and weighs about 16 grams, this is more than most other tit species including the Willow Tit and Blue Tits.
The Great Tit has a bold black head, white cheeks with a black stripe running down their yellow belly and a white wing bar. Their body colour is primarily green and yellow.
They have a short beak and a short squared off tail.
Great Tit Bird Song
The Great Tit song is distinctive and melodious, typically consisting of a series of whistle notes , listen out for a song similar to ‘tee-cher, tee-cher, tee-cher’.
It is also primarily used by adult males to establish territories and attract mates during the breeding season, although both the male and female Great Tit may sing throughout the year. The male Great Tit will have a range of different tempos of songs to make the territory seem more densely occupied and deter competition!
Are Great Tits Rare?
No, Great Tits are not rare. In fact, the Great Tit is one of the most widespread and common bird species in Europe and Asia and are not a threatened species. On the IUCN red list, the Great Tit is considered 'least concern'.
In the UK, there are around 2.5 million territories of this Great Tit species and will regularly be spotted in our gardens.
Do Great Tits migrate?
In general, Great Tits are not migratory and will usually remain in or around their territory all year round.
Great Tit Habitats - Where do Great Tits live?
Great Tits are frequently seen in parks, gardens, and orchards, where they can find suitable nesting sites and a variety of food sources, including insects, seeds, and berries.
The Great Tit prefers areas with mature trees for nesting and foraging. Great Tits are versatile birds that can adapt to a wide range of habitats as long as there is suitable vegetation for nesting and a variety of food sources available.
Great Tit Lifespan
A typical lifespan of a Great Tit is three years, similar to other tits, although we know from ringing, some have lived for up to 10 years!
Great Tit Nesting
Great Tits usually begin nesting around April or May. The Great Tit species are cavity nesters, and they will build their nests in holes within trees or other surfaces.
Great Tits are more than happy to use nest boxes and there are plenty of nest boxes you can buy that are made specifically to suit a Great Tit. As one of the larger members of the Tit family, opt for a nest box with a larger hole so the Great Tit can get in and out easily.
Great Tit Breeding
Breeding in the spring and summer months, the female Great Tit will select a nest site and construct a nest made of moss, feathers and any other soft materials.
Once the nest is complete, the female will lay a clutch size of 6 to 12 white eggs and will incubate them, alone, for two weeks. The male provides her with food during this time.
Once the chicks have hatched, both parents will feed them a diet consisting of insects, spiders, seeds and other small invertebrates. Growing rapidly, the juvenile birds will fledge the nest after about three weeks, for some time afterwards however, they may continue to rely on the adults for guidance and food. Some of the Great Tit population will have a second brood.
The breeding success of these birds relies on good weather and having a reliable range of food sources. This means their breeding is sometimes interfered with because of climate change.
What do Great Tits Eat?
As a generalist feeder, these individual birds consume a wide range of items, including insects, spiders, seeds, nuts, berries, and fruits.
During the breeding season, a Great Tit will primarily feed on protein rich foods such as caterpillars, beetles, and other invertebrates to meet the high energy demands of raising their young chicks.
They are known for their ability to catch insects in mid air or glean them from leaves and branches.
In the autumn and winter months, when insect populations decline, Great Tit birds choice of supplementary food is a more plant based diet, foraging for seeds, nuts, and berries. They are frequent visitors to bird feeders in gardens, where they consume seeds, suet, and other supplementary foods provided by humans, including specific mixes for the Tit species.
Great Tit nest boxes
Great Tit nest boxes play a crucial role in the conservation and management of these songbirds.
These nest boxes mimic natural tree hollows and provide Great Tits with safe and suitable nesting sites in our gardens, especially in areas where natural cavities are scarce due to habitat loss or human disturbance.
Nest boxes are typically constructed of wood and designed to mimic the dimensions and features of natural nest sites, with a small entrance hole to deter predators. They are often installed in woodlands, parks, gardens, and other green spaces, either mounted on trees or buildings.
Great Tit predators
Great Tits, like many small bird species, face various predators throughout their lives. Nest predators are a significant threat, particularly during the breeding season when eggs and chicks are vulnerable. Common nest predators include mammals such as squirrels, rats, and even larger birds like magpies and crows. These predators may raid nests for eggs or young chicks, often exploiting vulnerabilities such as poorly concealed nests or easily accessible nest boxes.
Outside the nest, Great Tits are also preyed upon by a range of predators, including birds of prey such as sparrowhawks and owls, which hunt them both in flight and while they're perched. Additionally, domestic cats pose a significant threat to Great Tits, particularly in urban and suburban environments where cats are abundant and hunt freely.
How to attract Great Tits to your garden
Great Tits will readily visit bird feeders. Offer a variety of foods such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, and suet cakes. Ensure the feeders are placed in a safe and accessible location away from predators.
Like all birds, Great Tits need fresh water for drinking and bathing. Install a bird bath or shallow dish of water in your garden, ensuring it's clean and replenished regularly.
Great Tits prefer wooded areas, so planting native trees and shrubs can provide them with suitable habitat. Dense vegetation also offers cover and nesting sites. Consider adding bird boxes or nest boxes specifically designed for Great Tits, placed at a safe height and away from potential predators.
Five facts about Great Tits
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Great Tits are known for their wide range of vocalisations, including various calls and songs, if you hear a bird song you and you can't place who it belongs to, there is a good chance it may be the Great Tit. They have distinct calls for communication, alarm, and territorial defence.
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Great Tits are social learners, capable of observing and imitating behaviours from their peers. This ability allows them to adapt to changing environments and learn new foraging techniques or problem solving skills by observing other birds.
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While Great Tits typically nest in tree hollows or nest boxes, they have been known to display innovative nesting behaviours. In urban areas, they may utilise unconventional nest sites such as letterboxes, drainpipes, and even discarded items like old shoes or cans.
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Research has shown that Great Tits possess impressive spatial memory skills. They can remember the locations of food caches and retrieve them efficiently, even after several days have passed. This ability helps them survive during times of food scarcity by efficiently locating stored food.
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During harsh winters when food sources are scarce, Great Tits employ various survival tactics. They may join mixed species foraging flocks, allowing them to benefit from safety in numbers and share information about food sources. They also have the ability to enter a state of regulated hypothermia during cold nights, conserving energy to survive until dawn.
