Hi there
I would love to know a precise way to work the differences between the 2 species of Tits
Has anyone any suggestions?
Anyone been lucky to see a Marsh Tit/Willow Tit in a Reserve or in their garden area?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Oh, these two really are a pain to tell the difference between, if just going by eye. We are lucky enough to have both species here at Top Lodge, though rather more marsh than willow tits.
Looking at them, willow tits have more of a bull head, that is the head looks much larger. Especially towards the back of the neck. The black bib is also larger and generally looks more untidy. Like its forgotten to trim its beard, as opposed the the more dapper and groomed marsh tit. The willow tit also has a pale wing panel, but this can be exceedingly difficult to see. All in all, not much use unless you have two the same sat next to each other!
Voice is where the main difference is. Marsh tits sneeze at you, going 'pitchuu'. They also scold you with a 'chicka-bee-bee-bee'. Both these calls are soley marsh tit, so if you hear your bird making one of them, you know what you have. Willow tits have a high pitched 'eez-eez-eez' buzzing call.
Hope this helps!
Reedbed, freshwater scrapes, saltmarsh and wet meadow. Frampton Marsh has it all! Come and pay us a visit soon.
Hi Chris
Yes, they are a pain to work out.
Thank you for your answer. It had opened the door to understanding which bird is which,
Only seen Marsh Tits in a reserve, and that is the only place so far. One day it would be nice to ee them up close and personal at feeders.
It looks although the birds call is the main thing to help divide them apart.so I will work on that fact now.
Unknown said: Oh, these two really are a pain to tell the difference between, if just going by eye. We are lucky enough to have both species here at Top Lodge, though rather more marsh than willow tits. Looking at them, willow tits have more of a bull head, that is the head looks much larger. Especially towards the back of the neck. The black bib is also larger and generally looks more untidy. Like its forgotten to trim its beard, as opposed the the more dapper and groomed marsh tit. The willow tit also has a pale wing panel, but this can be exceedingly difficult to see. All in all, not much use unless you have two the same sat next to each other! Voice is where the main difference is. Marsh tits sneeze at you, going 'pitchuu'. They also scold you with a 'chicka-bee-bee-bee'. Both these calls are soley marsh tit, so if you hear your bird making one of them, you know what you have. Willow tits have a high pitched 'eez-eez-eez' buzzing call. Hope this helps!
Yo Kathy & Dave
We often get Marsh Tits come to see us when we're "Peregrine sitting" at Symonds Yat Rock. They're dapper little chaps and a recently discovered diagnostic tip is a little pale patch on their bill near the base. Willows don't have that. More details here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=107725&highlight=willow+tit+identification
JBNTS
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Eh up, and hello from me John (Dave is form Yorkshire)
Great to see you see you here, and it is nice to see another familar face. {thumbs up}
Hey you are so lucky seeing Marsh Tits on a regular basis - and thanks for the link. will read through and pick up all those snippets of information that we need to know about.
I know that the subject has been spoken about a lot but one cannot help asking the same questions just incase there might have been a 'new' answer to the question - if you know what I mean!
Unknown said: Yo Kathy & Dave We often get Marsh Tits come to see us when we're "Peregrine sitting" at Symonds Yat Rock. They're dapper little chaps and a recently discovered diagnostic tip is a little pale patch on their bill near the base. Willows don't have that. More details here - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=107725&highlight=willow+tit+identification JBNTS