Blue Tit
Parus caeruleus
The common small tit over most of Europe. A resident species over most areas it breeds in holes like other Parus species but forms mobile local flocks outside the breeding season. One of the most common species at garden feeders with almost blanket coverage in Britain. Flocks may often reach 50 or more individuals but these are likely to have been bred within tow or three kilometres at most.
The birds have a blue cap to the head - brighter in males - and blue-green backs. They have a white stripe above the eye, dark blue through it and on the throat but white cheeks. The underparts are yellow. Breeding population estimate for Britain and Ireland is 4.4 million pairs.
Europe's commonest tit (chickadee).
The following Bird On! picture is available:
Blue Tit (Watercolour by Robert Gillmor)
Length 115 mm Closed wing 64 mm Weight 11 gms A Bird On! Sketch by Chris Mead
Copyright © 1996 by Jacobi Jayne & Company and Chris Mead