Great Tits Bird: ID, Diet, Habitat

The Great Tit bird, with its black head, white cheeks and yellow breast, is a common sight in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Not only do they brighten up gardens and woodlands but they also have some amazing behaviour. In this article we’ll cover how to ID the Great Tits bird, its diet, habitat, nesting habits and its funny behaviour.

Key Takeaways

• Great Tits are identified by their black head, white cheeks and yellow breast, males have a wider black stripe on their bellies than females.

• They live in various habitats, woodlands and urban gardens and have a varied diet of insects, seeds and human provided food, they are very adaptable.

• Great Tits have intricate nesting habits, they prefer tree cavities and man made structures and also show intelligent behaviour like problem solving and competing for food.

IDing Great Tits

At first glance IDing a Great Tit is pretty easy, thanks to their black head, white cheeks and yellow breast. These colours are not just for show, they play an important part in communication and mating.

Males and females can be told apart by the black stripe on their bellies. Males have a wider stripe that goes all the way down to their legs, females have a narrower stripe that doesn’t reach their legs. This is a great detail to look out for as a bird watcher.

Great Tits are 12.5 to 14cm long and 18g in weight. Despite their small size they are robust and lively, often seen flitting about energetically. Their small size and bright colours make them a favourite among birders and nature lovers.

Next time you see a bird with a black head and a yellow breast take a closer look. It might be a Great Tit or a blue tit, adding some colour and wonder to your day.

Where Do Great Tits Live?

Great Tits are very adaptable, they live in various habitats from dense woodlands to urban gardens. This is why they are so widespread and seen in many different environments. Whether you’re walking in a park or in your backyard there’s a good chance you’ll see these birds.

Open deciduous forests and mixed woodlands are their preferred habitat, plenty of food and nesting sites. Parks and gardens with plenty of trees and shrubs are also great for them, showing their adaptability in urban environments.

Geographically Great Tits are found in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. They are from the dense forests of Eastern Europe to the busy cities of Western Europe and beyond. But they avoid treeless areas and are less common in northern Scotland and some islands.

This wide distribution and adaptability means Great Tits are a common sight for many, adding colour and life to many landscapes. They’re in both rural and urban areas so they’re an easy and fun subject for birders everywhere.

What Do Great Tits Eat?

Great Tits have a varied diet that changes with the seasons and their habitat. During breeding season insects are their main food, caterpillars play a big part in feeding the young. This high protein diet ensures the chicks grow fast and have the energy to fledge successfully.

Beyond insects Great Tits eat peanuts, seeds and spiders. These are important during colder months when insects are scarce. In winter they also eat the fallen seed crop of beech trees, showing they can adapt to seasonal changes.

Urban environments offer extra food sources for Great Tits. They often supplement their diet with human provided food, from bird feeders. This has led to interesting adaptations, like longer beaks in UK Great Tits to get to feeder food.

Supplementary food in gardens has helped Great Tits survive harsh winters and increase their population. Fruits, seeds and even small vertebrates can be part of their diet, showing their opportunistic eating habits.

Whether pecking at insects in spring or eating seeds from a bird feeder in winter, the diet of Great Tits shows their adaptability with bird food.

Great Tit Nesting Habits

Great Tits show fascinating nesting habits that highlight their adaptability. They prefer tree cavities, walls and old nests of larger birds, and man made structures like nest boxes and great tits nest. This flexibility makes them successful breeders in both natural and urban environments, especially when great tits nest in multiple places.

Their nests are made of thin twigs, roots, moss, grasses and lichen. They often line them with soft materials like feathers and plant down to create a comfortable and insulated environment for their eggs, showing their care and attention.

They lay between 7-9 eggs per clutch. Incubation period is 13-14 days, the female does most of the incubation while the male feeds. After hatching the chicks are in the nest for 18-21 days before fledging.

Nest boxes can attract Great Tits to your garden. A suitable nest box should have a round entrance hole larger than that of blue tits, to accommodate Great Tits to enter and exit. Equipping your garden with such nesting opportunities can support local populations of these lovely birds.

The nesting habits of Great Tits, whether in the wild or your backyard, show their adaptability and care for their young.

How to Attract Great Tits to Your Garden

Attracting Great Tits to your garden is rewarding. One way is to offer food they like, like peanuts and sunflower seeds. Sunflower hearts from feeders and other food scraps like fruit and mild cheese will also entice them to visit.

Providing suitable nesting box sites is also important. Nest boxes with a round entrance hole larger than that of blue tits will encourage Great Tits to nest in your garden, to observe their nesting and rearing behaviors up close.

Natural food sources like seed heads and berries will also attract Great Tits. Planting a variety of plants that produce seeds and berries throughout the year will ensure a continuous food supply for these birds.

Food availability in winter is a big attractant for Great Tits. Increased food in gardens has been linked to rising Great Tit populations, helping them survive harsher months. Providing bird feeders and keeping them stocked with nutritious food will support these birds all year round.

A garden that meets the needs of Great Tits will bring these lovely birds closer and contribute to their conservation and well being.

Great Tit Behaviour and Intelligence

Great Tits are not only beautiful but also clever and resourceful. At feeding stations they are aggressive, often outcompeting smaller birds for food. Their dominance at these sites shows their assertiveness and survival instincts.

In some cases Great Tits can be quite brutal, even killing other birds and bats. This rare aggressive behaviour shows their competitive nature and adaptability to secure resources. They are problem solvers, they learn new tasks to get food, like using conifer needles to extract insect larvae.

One unusual behaviour observed in Great Tits is their tendency to attack and eat hibernating bats, especially in Eastern Europe. This rare behaviour in birds shows the Great Tit’s versatility and opportunistic feeding habits.

These behaviours and intelligence make Great Tits great subjects to study and observe. Their ability to adapt, learn and dominate their environment proves their resilience and resourcefulness.

Great Tits and Climate Change

Climate change has impacted Great Tits, especially in their breeding. Since 1968 they have been laying their eggs about 9 days earlier, this is due to changing climate conditions. This adjustment is to match their breeding season with the availability of food, like caterpillars, to feed their young.

The population of Great Tits in the UK has increased since the 1960s, partly due to milder winters and more food availability. These conditions have made it easier for Great Tits to survive and thrive, contributing to their growth.

Despite this change, the overall population trend of Great Tits has not been affected by the earlier laying dates. This shows their adaptability to environmental changes.

Great Tits are prone to avian pox, a disease that manifests as tumour like growths, especially on their heads. Transmission can occur through contaminated surfaces or bites from infected insects. While avian pox can affect individual birds, it doesn’t seem to impact the overall population.

Understanding these dynamics is important for conservation and shows how we should support Great Tits as they navigate climate change.

Predators and Threats

Sparrow hawks are common predators of Great Tits, a big threat to their population. These agile raptors are effective in garden environments, where they can ambush unsuspecting Great Tits. The presence of Sparrow hawks affects Great Tits behaviour and distribution, making them more cautious and changing their feeding patterns. While predation is part of the ecosystem, it shows the challenges Great Tits face everyday. Understanding these threats will help bird watchers and conservationists create a safer space for these lovely birds.

Fun Facts About Great Tits

Great Tits are monogamous but can change partners every year, adding a dynamic to their social structure. Despite their resilience and adaptability many don’t survive to breeding age, shows the challenges they face in the wild.

These fun facts makes Great Tits even more interesting to watch and study.

Conclusion

Great Tits are a special species, a mix of adaptability, intelligence and resilience. From their identification markers like black head, white cheeks and yellow breast to their nesting habits, these birds have won the hearts of bird watchers and nature lovers. They can thrive in different environments, from dense woodlands to urban gardens, shows their versatility.

Understanding Great Tits diet which includes insects, seeds and human provided food shows their opportunistic feeding habits. Their nesting habits shows a careful approach to raise their young, using natural and man made materials. Their behaviours and intelligence like aggressive feeding and tool use makes them special birds.

Climate change has impacted Great Tits, evident in their earlier egg laying dates and their resilience to diseases like avian pox, shows we need to continue conservation efforts. By creating a supportive environment, providing food and understanding their threats we can help these lovely birds. Watching and protecting Great Tits not only enriches our lives but also maintains ecological balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify a Great Tit?

• Answer: You can identify a Great Tit by its black head, white cheeks and yellow breast, males have a broader black stripe on their belly than females.

Where do Great Tits live?

• Answer: Great Tits live in woodlands, urban areas and gardens, they are adaptable to different environments. They are found in Europe, Middle East and Central Asia.

What do Great Tits eat?

• Answer: Great Tits eat insects, seeds and peanuts, with a big reliance on caterpillars during breeding season to feed their young.

How to attract Great Tits to your garden?

• Answer: How to attract Great Tits to your garden, offer peanuts, sunflower seeds and install nest boxes with the right sized entrance holes. These will create a welcoming space for them.

How does climate change affect Great Tits?

• Answer: Climate change makes Great Tits lay their eggs 9 days earlier in the year, but this does not affect their population trend. This shows their adaptability.