Related
Recommended
Allie M
Five facts about crested tits

RSPB Scotland’s Jen Mullen shares five cool facts about the punky crested tit.

Five facts about crested tits

  1. In Britain, they are confined to the Caledonian pine forest of the Scottish Highlands

They prefer old native Scots pine trees when breeding, so they are restricted to areas in the Scottish Highlands. There are between 1,000 and 2,000 pairs in Scotland. They would have been more common in the past when Scotland had more native woodland. They can be seen at RSPB Scotland Abernethy Nature Reserve and RSPB Scotland Corrimony Nature reserve .

  1. They are very social and very busy

They are hyperactive birds, often appearing restless as they forage for food in the Scots pines and on the ground. They feed mainly on insects during the summer and on seeds in the winter. They have been known to eat seeds out of people’s hands at RSPB Scotland Loch Garten Osprey Centre (Abernethy). After the nesting season, they form small social groups and travel together. These groups often team up with other species of tit.

  1. They nest in rotten tree trunks and dead wood

Females select rotten tree stumps or dead trees to make a nest. They line the nest with moss, lichen and other soft material that they find. Raising young is a team effort, with both parents feeding them. Young are dependent on both parents for around 23 days after hatching.

  1. They are the punkiest of all the tit species

Although they are less colourful than many of the other tit species, they have a striking crest on the top of their head which can be raised and folded back to varying lengths. Their black and white speckled forehead enhances this striking feature. They also have a black, eye liner style, mark through the eye and a thin black collar.

  1. Their song brightens up the dullest of days

These wee birds have the cheeriest call that is guaranteed to make you smile. It is a bubbly, happy ‘troolooloo’ type trill which is high pitched and repeated over and over. It is easy to recognise and it is different from the calls of all other tits. They also make a sharp and short ‘zit’ note at times. Their song is a series of both calls mixed together at a very speedy pace.

 

Find out more about crested tits here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/crested-tit/