Parus Ater - Coal Tit

Source: British Garden Birds (www.garden-birds.co.uk)

Description

The Coal Tit is a small tit, in fact the smallest European tit, and could be confused with the almost indistinguishable Marsh Tit and Willow Tit if it was not for the white patch on the nape. While it behaves like a Blue Tit, there is no blue in its plumage.
The upperparts are a olive-grey, the underparts buff coloured. The crown and large bib are black, while the cheeks and nape are white. There are also two white wing bars on each wing.
Juveniles are browner above, and the underparts, cheeks, nape, and wing bars are more yellow.

Feeding

Insects and conifer seeds are the Coal Tit's diet. In the garden, they choose black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, and occasionally suet. They store food, particularly when food is plentiful, for consumption later, albeit usually within a few days.

Voice

The high pitch song of the Coal Tit, a repetitive "pee-chew", is similar to that of the Great Tits but faster.

Breeding

Breeding Coal Tits will nest in hollows in trees or in mouse holes. The nest is similar to that of the Blue Tit (i.e. made from moss, wool, dead leaves and spiders' webs) except that it is moss-lined.
The Coal Tit's small (15 mm by 12 mm) eggs are smooth and glossy, and white with reddish-brown speckles. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.

Distribution

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