Blue tits are lively, attractive little birds that live in wooded areas and regularly turn up in gardens, particularly if there are peanuts on offer. The vivid blue cap sets this bird apart from other tits, making it relatively easy to identify. The great tit, as the name suggests, is bigger and coal tits have no blue, green, or yellow on them. Up to 750,000 pairs of blue tits nest in Scotland and they are found all over the country, except for some of the islands. Here are five facts we thought you’d enjoy about this species…
Blue tits are acrobatic feeders
Blue tits are extremely light, which gives them an advantage when it comes to feeding. Their minimal weight means they can seek out food at the tips of the thinnest branches, unlike some other birds such as great tits.
They put all their eggs in one basket
Each year, blue tits produce just one brood of chicks and they do so to coincide with the greatest abundance of caterpillars. It’s a clever strategy really, making sure there is plenty of food around to feed the chicks, but if the brood fails, there is no second chance.
Young blue tits look slightly different
The basic pattern of a fledgling’s plumage will still help you identify the bird as a blue tit, but be aware that juveniles have greener caps than their parents and they have yellow cheeks instead of white.
They form gangs
After nesting, family groups of blue tits will band together in large flocks to search for food. Although wide-roaming, the birds will often follow a regular ‘beat’. In summer they feed mainly on insects but as the seasons change to autumn and winter, seeds, nuts and fruits are added to the blue tit’s diet and you’re more likely to see them frequenting your feeder.
They use disinfectant
Admittedly, you won’t spot a blue tit spritzing its nest with Dettol, but scientists in Norway have discovered that these birds use medicinal plants to disinfect their living spaces. They use aromatic plants such as lavender, mint, and curry leaves, which kill bacteria, to line their nests, thereby sterilising the area and making it safer to raise chicks in.