Not as colourful as some of its relatives, the coal tit has a distinctive grey back, black cap, and white patch at the back of its neck. Its smaller, more slender bill than blue or great tits means it can feed more successfully in conifers. A regular visitor to most peanut feeders, they will take and store food for eating later. In winter they join with other tits to form flocks which roam through woodlands and gardens in search of food.
Key ID Features:
One of the smaller tits and indeed one of Europe's smallest birds.
Less colourful than many other UK tits with greyish back and buff underparts.
It shares the black head and white cheek patches of the Great, Willow and Marsh Tits but the white patch on the nape is distinctive.
A large black bib sits below the small, narrow bill.
Double white wing bars look more spotted when perched but more evident in flight.
It looks large headed relative to it's diminutive body size witha short sharp tail.
Overview
Scientific name: Parus or Periparus ater.
Family: Tits (Paridae)
Where to see them:
Woodland, especially conifer woods, parks and gardens.
Seen in UK:
All year round.
What they eat
Insects, seeds and nuts.
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Photographer: Tim Tapley
