Bird Table News

GREAT TIT (Parus major)

Great Tit

FEEDING

Forages in hedges and trees insects, spiders and worms. Also likes -

• Fruit
• peas
• nuts
• seeds
• coconut
• fat
• suet
• cheese

The Great Tit likes a woodland habitat and it has a beak strong enough to crack hazel and beech nuts.

Is a visitor to many bird tables but also likes to feed on the ground

The great tit is the largest of the British tits and is easy to recognise because of its yellow breast and long black central band which runs from its chin to its tail. It has a black and white head. It is a really colourful bird.

The tail is blue grey with white outer feathers.

Females have less glossy caps and less black on the breast.

CHARACTER

I always think the Great Tit looks pretty and charming but in reality it can be aggressive to other birds who try and share the bird table or peanut feeder. I have seen them do this in Spring and Summer when they are defending their area. They open their beaks and spread their wings to try to get other birds away. This war keep going until one of the birds gives in by flying away.

There have been recordings of Great Tits actually killing other birds. Their beak is a good weapon - it can open a hazel-nut.

HABITAT

The Great Tit is a true woodland bird. They rely on insect food to feed their young.

Great Tits also depend on garden feeders and bird tables and can make themselves at home in gardens.

SIZE OF BIRD 14cm

EGGS 5-11 eggs are laid. The eggs are white with red spots

INCUBATION 13 to 14 days

BREEDING One brood.

Great Tits have been known to take over a blue tits net box. They put a new lining over the blue tits eggs and hatch their own eggs.

FLEDGING
3 weeks (approx). The young are fed mainly on caterpillars. The Great Tits time their families to work in with the peak number of caterpillars. This time changes each year. Question - How do the birds know weeks in advance when there will be the most caterpillars about.

NEST
The Great Tit makes it nest from grasses, moss, wool and any other material that is available. It will nest in many places; hole fronted nest boxes, tree holes, eaves, stone walls , flowerpots.

Males take little or no part in building the nest, but they feed the hen while she is incubating and laying the eggs.

NEST BOXES 1 1/8 inch (29mm) diameter entrance hole or slightly larger. Interior depth at least 5 inches (127mm) from hole to floor. Floor needs to be at least 4 inches x 4 inches (100mmx 100mm)

SONG Most of the birdsong has a ringing quality but lots of different calls have been describes for the Great Tit. The song has been described as ‘chink’ and ‘teacher-teacher-teacher’.

MY GREAT TIT NOTES

Great Tits should be welcome in the garden as they feed their young on protein-rich caterpillars. They also benefit from our birdtables and feeders - especially in winter

Once the fledglings are independent from their parents they feed in flocks with other species of tits. They roost together in Summer and Autumn. In winter so they have better protection from the freezing cold weather, they nestle alone in any crevice, or perhaps a hole in a tree. So I know they will be visiting my bird feeders for many months to come.

I’m starting to get Great Tits back into the garden.  It’s good to know the bird food I put out is useful and is helping these birds keep in good condition  - so they are healthy when they face the winter.

WHEN I CAME CLOSE TO A COLOURFUL GREAT TIT

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