Blue Tits

Spotting a blue tit

Blue tits are colourful birds and easy to spot. They have a blue cap on their heads, black eyestripes, white cheeks, a greeny-blue back, yellow belly and their wings and tail are blue.

Males have a brighter colouring than females. In both males and females their feathers become brighter as they get older.

The population is currently increasing, which is thought to be due to the increase in available nest boxes.

Behaviour

They live in broad-leaved woodland but are also commonly found in parks and gardens. They make their nests in crevices and holes in trees and walls but are happy to use a nest box. 

In winter they’ll form flocks, roaming the countryside and visiting gardens. During their lives a blue tit will stay in the same area in which they hatched. They live just over two and a half years on average.

Food

Blue tits hunt for insects and spiders amongst the smaller branches and leaves of trees. In the spring they will eat pollen, nectar and sap and in the winter they’ll eat berries.

They are also well-adapted to gardens and towns and will happily visit garden bird tables.

Did you know…

Most birds can see ultra-violet (UV) light but blue tits use it in a special way. The blue feathers on the top of their heads glows brightly under UV light. Males will pick a female who has brightly coloured – and glowing! – blue head feathers, as they make fitter mothers.