Is it possible to tell male/female blue tits apart?

[werdnal]

At Christmas we bought a nest box with camera and have been delighted to find a blue tit pair are taking an avid interest in it. Currently there is a scattering of moss in the bottom (nowhere near enough for a nest) but at least one bird is there every day tapping at the hole and making their mark on their new home.

I happened to be watching at one point last week and saw a pair of birds inside the box for a split second, before one left. Is it possible to tell blue tits apart? We don't know if its one bird doing all the prep work, or whether they are taking turns? Its is usual for a male and female to share the building work, or does the male do the majority and the female supervise?

[Kayleigh]

The male has a deeper blue head that as much as I know. someone else may answer your other questions..

[Elizabeth B]

When you see birds together briefly inside the box and then one leaves, the usual pattern at this stage is that the male goes in first, and waits for the female to arrive. Sometimes if she is a bit slow, he might pop up to the hole and take a look around before going back onto the floor - he possibly calls to her when he's at the hole. When he senses that she is on the way in, he'll crouch down (usually to one side) and as soon as she lands inside the box he makes his escape. This is our seventh year of watching inside boxes via cameras - you can read all about it on our bluetit website, and choose which live camera view to look at via Web Viewer in the main index. You can also look at playback to see any earlier action.

The only sure way generally to tell the birds apart is by their behaviour - though towards the end of the breeding season, the male usually starts to look very scruffy round his head. One year our male bluetit went bald!

The female builds the nest - the male takes no part in this.

[smartie]

It's not easy to tell the difference, though they seem to manage to sort it out quite well The markings are essentially the same, though the male is said to be brighter in colour. I've rarely been able to see this myself, but maybe I'm just not observant enough. The usual pattern is that the female builds the nest and she sits on the eggs. The male brings her food while she does this and then they both feed the chicks.

[werdnal]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth B

The female builds the nest - the male takes no part in this.

Thanks Elizabeth. You obviously have far more experience watching them in boxes that us. We are finding it very interesting, if a little frustrating at times, as they are taking a very long time to get things sorted. The main partner has been in the box for nearly 2 weeks, on and off, usually busier in the mornings. She (I assume from what you have said) has spent most of that time pecking, cleaning (its a new box so what she is finding to clear out is beyond me) and generally fussing around in the box without actually attempting to make a nest. Only in the last few days has she started bringing in a little moss at time, then will often fluff it about and take it out again!

I wonder if she is a first time "mum" and little unsure or inexperienced in what its all about?

I also thought they might roost in the box at night as a pair, but after about 4.00pm in the afternoon, they disappear and don't return until the next morning.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by werdnal

Thanks Elizabeth. You obviously have far more experience watching them in boxes that us. We are finding it very interesting, if a little frustrating at times, as they are taking a very long time to get things sorted. The main partner has been in the box for nearly 2 weeks, on and off, usually busier in the mornings. She (I assume from what you have said) has spent most of that time pecking, cleaning (its a new box so what she is finding to clear out is beyond me) and generally fussing around in the box without actually attempting to make a nest. Only in the last few days has she started bringing in a little moss at time, then will often fluff it about and take it out again!

I wonder if she is a first time "mum" and little unsure or inexperienced in what its all about?

I also thought they might roost in the box at night as a pair, but after about 4.00pm in the afternoon, they disappear and don't return until the next morning.

You're welcome, werdnal. The great tit in Box 1, which started roosting there in early January, has only recently started bringing in moss. Before this she spent ages in the box during the day, just looking around and occasionally pecking around a bit. The blue tit in Box 2 is also bringing in a bit of moss - and taking it out - and bringing it in again - etc etc until she abandons it, then a little while later starts the whole carry-on again. This is the first time we've had a "rooster" so early in the year - our birds usually wait until the nest is partially built. We've only once seen a pair roosting in a box (but not together), and this was in our first year. It was possible to squeeze up into the "attic", and one of the pair roosted there sometimes. This happened during the day sometimes too, and the wiring was damaged by the pecking (though not so badly that the camera failed). The next year my husband modified the box so that the birds couldn't get up there.

[OPENHEART]

Hi its the female that does the nest building in bluetits ,i have 7 chicks in my box now ,they are 12 days old ,there eyes have just started to open ,i am so proud of them ,the male is helping to feed them ,we had 9 eggs to begin with ,but the 9 th egg hasnt hatched ,it was the last to be layed,we have had Bluetits nesting for years ,we could hear them &chicks ,but now we have a camera with sound in 2 boxs ,its a joy to watch ,but only one box is in use (at the moment)

[david culley]

Hi kayleigh

it is difficult to the untrained eye,but if you look close the male is a more vibrant colour the female is more dull in colour,the same goes for songthrushes
the male is more vibrant.

hope this helps. Dave Culley. Sparrowhawk Island - Real Sparrowhawks and other wildlife in the wild captured live on web cam - The UK's Number 1 website for Sparrowhawks in the wild

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

The male has a deeper blue head that as much as I know. someone else may answer your other questions..

For this you need an ultra-violet light source. Always keep one handy in case you need one. lol.