One of our most popular garden birds, has to be the Great tit.A sparrow sized bird, instantly recognisable by their bright plumage, they readily come into our gardens and make the most of our food and nest boxes.
The Great tit, is noticeably larger than blue tit, with large white cheek patches, which stand out from its black head and throat. To decipher whether it is male or female, simply look at the stripe that runs down the front of its chest. The males stripe is broader, and runs all the way back, where as the females, will have a narrower stripe which fades towards its stomach.
It has a loud distinguished call and even though it can on occasion imitate other calls, its best known for 'teechu-teechu-teechu', which is often heard in the first 6 months of the year.
Never underestimate these small birds, they are opportunistic feeders, and have the ability to over come problems in order to attain food. Great tits are known to identify new sources of food by observing other birds foraging, and have a reputation of following other birds who are storing food, and steal from them. They have even been recorded using a pine needle as a tool to pick out food found in deep cavities.
Never underestimate these small birds, they are opportunistic feeders, and have the ability to over come problems in order to attain food. Great tits are known to identify new sources of food by observing other birds foraging, and have a reputation of following other birds who are storing food, and steal from them. They have even been recorded using a pine needle as a tool to pick out food found in deep cavities.
Although they eat mainly caterpillars, insects and larvae, during winter months like all small birds they need to build up their energy reserves with nuts and seeds and other plant matter, which is where we come in.
During autumn and winter put out food regularly and in severe weather if possible feed twice a day. Great tits enjoy peanuts (never put out salted or dry roasted varieties) sunflower seeds and fat balls. Please remove the mesh bags that these are sold in as they may trap birds' feet. Transfer them to a steel mesh feeder.
Juvenile Great tit by L. Warren
Great tits and their nests are protected under the wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you are fortunate to have them nesting in your nest box, it is always worth remembering that empty nests can be cleaned out only between August and January.
Papillion
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