Great Tit

The tits are in full nesting mode now and singing merrily away for all to hear  - that's those with a trained ear and know what to listen out for.

One that makes its present known loudly is the great tit. It has been said that the great tit has the widest repertoire of all British tits, if not all British song birds.  The most commonest call is a loud chaffinch-like "chink-chink" which can be heard throughout the year.  But now we are into spring the male's diagnostic song can be heard - "teacher", "teacher", "teacher".

Great tits have a black band running down their yellow belly which gives them the quaint look of wearing a waistcoat.  The glossy blue/black crown and nape contrast well with their white cheeks; indeed, it's the white cheeks that first attract their attention.  The rest of the plumage is a mixture of yellow and green, making it a pleasant little bird to look out for.

Watching the acrobatics of the great tit is a marvel as it feeds hanging upside down from branches of trees looking for spiders, insects and buds.  It will do the same on garden bird feeders trying to extract the nuts.

In the past, the great tits varied menu even extended to the front door step, where, like its close relative the blue tit, they have become adept at piercing milk bottle tops and drinking the milk.

I took this photo a couple of years ago at Worfield.

Great Tit