Coal Tit

Glossy black cap and throat, a prominent white cheek patch, and a distinctive white nape spot. The upperparts are greyish-green to bluish-grey, and the underparts are dirty white to buff. Sexes are visually very similar, and juveniles are duller with yellowish-tinged cheek patches.

Black cap, contrasting white nape spot, white cheeks, greyish back with double wingbars, and lack of a dark bib extending down the breast.

Length: 10-11.5 cm, Wingspan: 17-21 cm, Weight: 8-10 g

A loud, high-pitched, repetitive two-syllabled song 'which-choo, which-choo', and high, thin 'see-see' contact calls.

Primarily insects and spiders during the breeding season; shifts to conifer seeds, beech mast, and seeds from deciduous trees in autumn and winter. Frequently hoards food in bark crevices.

Coniferous and mixed woodlands, particularly pine forests, though they readily adapt to parks, large gardens, and mature hedgerows.

Mostly sedentary resident, though northern and eastern populations may undertake irruptive southward movements during years of food scarcity.

Nests in tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, underground burrows, or stone walls. Lined with moss, hair, and wool. Clutch size is typically 7-11 eggs, incubated mainly by the female.

Marsh Tit and Willow Tit, but easily distinguished from them by its white nape patch and smaller size.

Acts as an important natural pest controller by consuming large quantities of insects, caterpillars, and tree-dwelling invertebrates, and aids in seed dispersal.

Least Concern (LC) with a stable global population trend.

Listen for their high-pitched, piping calls in coniferous woodlands. They readily visit garden bird feeders supplied with peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet.

Coal Tits are exceptional hoarders, hiding thousands of individual food items in autumn to survive harsh winter conditions, using a remarkable spatial memory to relocate them.