great tit

great tit, (Parus major), small, colorful woodland songbird identifiable by its vibrant body coloration and black head and chin, as well as its distinctive two-syllable vocalization, often described as its “tea-cher, tea-cher, tea-cher” call. Great tits have a vast geographic range that stretches from Morocco and Spain east across Eurasia to Japan and Indonesia. They live in a variety of habitats ranging from forests and grasslands to deserts and scrublands to agricultural and urban areas. The species is classified in the family Paridae, and most taxonomies separate the great tit into more than 40 subspecies.

Natural history

Adult great tits average 14 cm (6 inches) in length, have an average wingspan of 22–25 cm (9–10 inches), and weigh roughly 18 grams (1 ounce). Although there is little difference in overall size between adult males and adult females, males have slightly longer wings, more vibrant plumage, and a wider black band of feathers on the chest than females. Some studies report that females have longer bills than males during the breeding season, and males have longer bills than females during the colder months of the year (see also sexual dimorphism). In general, great tits have black caps accented by a region of white feathers under each eye, black-and-white wings, olive feathers on the back, and a yellow breast bisected by a vertical black stripe. Juveniles can be identified by a yellowish wash that covers their plumage, their pale yellow (rather than white) cheeks, and the greenish coloring of their wing feathers.

Unless they are displaced by severe winter weather, great tits remain in their summer breeding areas year-round. In addition to the well-known “tea-cher” call, they typically employ an additional 40 different song types. They are omnivores that show a preference for insects and other arthropods. They feed on bees, locusts, moths, earwigs, flies, and other flying insects, as well as beetles, crickets, cockroaches, and spiders. They also consume berries and seeds, including sunflower seeds.

Great tits are aggressive birds that will attack other birds and other animals (such as bats) in nesting and feeding areas they covet; adults of both sexes are also notably territorial during the breeding season. The species is vulnerable to nest predators, such as weasels, snakes, squirrels, rats, and crows, all of which target great tit chicks and eggs. Adults are preyed upon by domestic cats and birds of prey such as owls and sparrowhawks.

Great tits are monogamous. They breed at the conclusion of winter, with males using their songs to court females (see also birdsong). Research suggests that males with large song repertoires are most likely to be selected by breeding females. After mating takes place, a female will construct a nest made of soft materials such as leaves, grass, and moss in a tree cavity (such as those made by woodpeckers), rock crevice, or nest box. She deposits a clutch of 5–12 eggs that she will incubate for the next 12–15 days by herself. Both parents will care for their newly hatched chicks for the duration of their time in the nest. Young typically learn to fly at 3 weeks of age, and many become independent by 4 weeks of age. The pair may have a second brood after the first one disperses. Young birds become sexually mature after their first year and live for about 3 years.

Conservation status

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the great tit as a species of least concern. Population estimates suggest that the number of adult birds ranges from 423 million to 683 million birds worldwide. Spread across an incredibly large geographic range that includes parts of three continents, the species is far from threatened, and thus it is not viewed by the IUCN to be a conservation priority. However, wildlife officials continue to monitor how rising spring temperatures stemming from global warming have led to the earlier emergence of the bird’s insect prey. Hatching among great tits is timed to coincide with insect emergence, so wildlife officials are concerned that a mismatch in the timing of these two events could result in fewer food resources for young chicks.