adult

adult juvenile European distribution adult perched

Identification

In Great Tits the typical black and white face pattern is embellished by a broad black stripe which runs from the throat down the middle of the bright yellow belly. This characteristic black and yellow pattern is boldest on the males and duller on the females but is still visible even on the juveniles.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in woods, parks, orchards, hedgerows and gardens.

Behaviour

Experiments have shown that if a male Great Tit is removed from its territory, the subsequent occupation of the site by a neighbouring male can be delayed by broadcasting the song of a Great Tit from a loudspeaker. If the tape played gives only one version of the Great Tit's many songs then the site is reoccupied faster than if the tape plays a full repertoire of songs. This suggests that Great Tits with the broadest repertoire will be more successful in defending their territories, which is why they have evolved so many different songs.

Migration

A resident bird over much of its range although in northern Europe with birds nesting in mountain areas move to lower ground in winter.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Great Tit is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Bruton, Somerset 28/08/2010	Tattershall, Lincs 29/08/2010	Spondon, Derbys 27/08/2010	Spondon, Derbys 25/08/2010	Spondon, Derbys 23/08/2010
Stourton, Wilts 22/08/2010	Spondon, Derbys 21/08/2010	Balloch, Clyde 21/08/2010	Balloch, Clyde 21/08/2010	Weir Wood Resr, E Sussex 17/08/2010

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Great Tit breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	BTO: Girl power - Great Tit builds colossal nest	Monday 24th May 2010
	At almost five times larger than normal, this monster nest, constructed inside a revolving compost maker, was the work of just one female Great Tit.   read on

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