Marsh or Willow Tit???

[mightymaiden]

Is this a Marsh or Willow tit or is the picture not clear enough??



Cheers

Martin

[thewoose]

As far as I know the only way of telling is either the song or by a paler wing panel - neither of which is possible here!

I would reckon on Marsh though, I think they're a bit commoner.

[Naturenutz]

It appears to have a broad head which indicates willow tit but photographs can be misleading.These are hard at the best of times

[Ferret]

Marsh Tit I believe, pale mark on upper mandible is a better guide than wing panel I think, have a look here http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-con...Marsh-Tits.pdf

hope I am correct, if not others will put you right.

Ferret

[Deb London]

I can't really see the pale spot on the upper mandible, but can see the cheek demarcation line. But I have read that this can sometimes be seen on Willow Tits anyway.

Martin, where was this taken? Have you any other shots?

[htcdude]

Always difficult to tell from photos, but this one has a Marsh Tit feel to it for me. Let's have a poll!

Nige

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I can't really see the pale spot on the upper mandible, but can see the cheek demarcation line.

I can't! What you would be looking for there is a clear, obvious switch from white on the ear covert to grey-brown behind it, maybe with an apparent darker grey-brown line tracing the ear covert. This bird comes nowhere near that. Instead, the cheek is a similar colour all the way to the back, but with a very subtle hint of warm buff.

The bill is showing a pale cutting edge, which is present on both, but not the whitish bill spot at the base of the upper mandible.

So, on this photo, you've got the two best identification criteria, which are more reliable than any others when taken seperately, and together are a clincher: Willow Tit.

There is a very good article in this month's Birdwatch magazine that deals with this. Also see Ferret's link to the British Birds article, and this: http://blx1.bto.org/pdf/ringmigratio...broughton1.pdf

[Adam Cheeseman]

I agree with Willow Tit.

Cheers,

Adam

[actionfinch]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Always difficult to tell from photos, but this one has a Marsh Tit feel to it for me. Let's have a poll!

Nige

beat me to the poll bit nige..

lovley picture mind...

[glsammy]

I'd agree with Willow Tit.

For those wonder what the white mark is that's referred to, here's a shot of a Marsh Tit taken a couple of days ago.