Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus
Favourite Photos
Species Description
- Diet
- caterpillars, insects,seeds e.g. Aphids, leaf miner grubs, Mealy bugs
- Description
- bright blue cap, blue wings and tail, underparts yellow. Sexes are very similar although males are brighter in colour than females. Juveniles rather dull with greenish cap and yellowish face
- Habitat
- a bird of deciduous woodland but has adapted well to man made environments e.g. parks, gardens, allotments anywhere with sufficient vegetation and cover, well known for using bird boxes
- Population
- common resident
- Breading
- usually occurs between March and May. But may vary depending on weather conditions. Lays up to 16 eggs (each about the size of a marble) which are timed to exploit the flush of caterpillars when hatched. Males are territorial during the breeding season and are polygamous (can mate with several females)
- Predators
- include birds of prey e.g. Sparrowhawks, Foxes, Cats, Badgers, Great spotted woodpecker, Corvids (eats the eggs and fledglings e.g. Jay) etc
- Life span
- average= 2.7 years (oldest ever recorded was over 21 years)
- Size length
- (head to tail) 11.5cm
- Voice
- pee-pee-ti sihihihihihi,clear high pitched trill usually lasts 2 seconds other calls varied
- Confusion species
- Great Tit (much bigger than blue Tit) has solid black cap, white outer tail feathers and broad black stripe down breast and belly