Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Coal Tit
Scientific Name:
Parus ater
Length:
12cm
Wingspan (mm):
19cm
Weight:
9g
Lifespan:
2yrs Description
The Coal Tit is a small tit, in fact the smallest European tit, and could be confused with the almost indistinguishable Marsh Tit and Willow Tit if it was not for the white patch on the nape. While it behaves like a Blue Tit, there is no blue in its plumage. The upper parts are a olive-grey, the underparts buff coloured. The crown and large bib are black, while the cheeks and nape are white. There are also two white wing bars on each wing - this feature separates it from the Marsh and Willow Tits if the nape is not visible. The legs are blue-grey. Juveniles are browner above, and the underparts, cheeks, nape and wing bars are more yellow.
Diet
Insects, beech mast and conifer seeds are among the Coal Tit's natural diet. In the garden, they prefer black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts and occasionally suet. When food is plentiful they hoard it by hiding it all over the place so that they food for later when times are harder. Unfortunately, the Coal Tit's memory is not as great as its ingenuity in hiding places and you will often find forgotten sunflower seeds germinating in the most unlikely places!