Parus major

Colour: green and yellow with a glossy
black head, a black beak and white
cheeks. Males have a broader black stripe down the belly than females. Juveniles are duller overall with more yellowish cheeks.

Size: 14cm, wingspan 24cm.

Lifespan: around 3 years.

Where and when: they can be seen in the trees and green spaces by Regent’s Canal or Victoria Park, all year round.

Conservation status: green

Habitat

Great tits are found in woodlands, farmlands, parks and gardens with lots of trees for cover. They are widely distributed birds and are found in Europe, Asia, North Africa and in some areas of the Middle East.

Diet

Omnivorous – feeds on mainly insects and spiders but leans towards seeds, berries and nuts in the winter when insects are harder to find. They are active feeders and hunt insects on the smaller branches and leaves of trees in their habitat. They also visit bird tables in urban areas.

Behaviour

They are often seen hanging upside down from branches to reach their food and have high problem-solving abilities when it comes to finding and accessing their sources for food (like using pine needles to access larvae from bark). This bird can be rather aggressive over
food, fighting off smaller tits, but in winter it can join with Blue Tits and others to form flocks to search for food.

Breeding

Monogamous – they form one breeding partner during breeding season, which is usually April or May, but their partners may change in successive seasons. They usually nest in holes in trees but can also nest in nest boxes or even letter boxes.