Marsh Tit??

[John]

All these are different birds and I'm pretty sure they are all Marsh Tit (the last one could be a Willow but I doubt it). The problem is where these were photographed Willow Tits are there as well.

They were all photographed this afternoon at a remote feeder station that someone tops up which is situated by the side of a canal near to Brinklow, Warwickshire.

Have a look at them and see what you think.



John

[Jenny W]

I'm gonna cautiously say all Marsh going mostly by the light patch at the base of the upper mandible, all present apart from the middle picture on the bottom row where you can't see the bill very well.

[Dave66]

Hi John

I think they are marsh tits too. But I could be wrong.

Dave.

[Dogghound]

Did you hear them? Marsh tits call sounds like 'Pitchoo', Willow Tits call sounds like 'Chay Chay'. By far the best way to tell in the field. They do look more like marsh however I normally go on call just to be sure.

[willing to learn]

I took several of this bird, I thought perhaps this is a willow tit, but I would not put my life on it any one confirm.
Regards
Colin

[John]

I know the calls well but on this occasion they were just intent on feeding only so no calls to listen to.

John

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Did you hear them? Marsh tits call sounds like 'Pitchoo', Willow Tits call sounds like 'Chay Chay'. By far the best way to tell in the field. They do look more like marsh however I normally go on call just to be sure.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

I took several of this bird, I thought perhaps this is a willow tit, but I would not put my life on it any one confirm.
Regards
Colin

I agree the crown extends well back and the bib fades into the breast (more defined in a marsh), quite pale looking secondaries too. Im lucky in the fact that we get both in close proximity to where I live, also have both or one or the other on several sites I survey, although they are very tricky and as I said in my other post I rely alot on calls in the field.

[ChrisJB]

John, your's are all marsh I'd say. Willing to Learn, pale secondaries and a bit more colour beneath, then willow for me. great birds for I.D high jinks for sure.

Regards, Chris

[John]

Thanks all for confirming them all. I was pretty convinced they were all Marsh Tit's but this is a site that does hold both. I photographed all those that were poss Willow or Marsh and was surprised that when I studied the images none of them were Willow Tit's.

There was a bit of a feeding frenzy going on and the food was pulling in loads of birds so it was a bit of a surprise that no Willow Tit's joined in.

John

[RKB]

John's are all Marsh. They all have the crucial pale mark on the bill and Marsh cheek pattern.

Bib, cap, underparts are not reliable Separation of Willow Tit and Marsh Tit in Britain: a review - NERC Open Research Archive

willing to leanr's is a Willow (check the bill - no pale spot), but unusually it shows a lot of contrast in the cheek. This is uncommon, and is a Marsh Tit feature, but is trumped by the bill spot. It also shows a good Willow Tit pale wing panel, although this is less reliable than bill and cheek. If in doubt, always go with the bill spot.