5 things you might not know about the blue tit

2 min read
5 things you might not know about the blue tit

Blue tits are among the busiest visitors to our feeders, but they have some very unexpected tricks. Here are five.

1. They can see colours we can't

Blue tits can see ultraviolet light, and under UV a male's blue crown is brighter than a female's. To us the two sexes look almost alike, but to each other they are easy to tell apart. Their breast feathers also get more yellow the more yellow-green caterpillars they eat, so a bright chest is a sign of a well-fed male.

2. A clutch can weigh more than the mother

Seven or eight eggs is normal, but a verified clutch of fourteen has been recorded in the UK. A full clutch can weigh one and a half times as much as the female. At peak feeding time one bird can bring food to the nest about once every ninety seconds, and each chick can eat around 100 caterpillars a day.

3. Their feathers aren't actually blue

There is no blue pigment in a blue tit's feathers. The colour comes from the microscopic structure of the feather, which scatters blue light back at your eye, so it shifts with the angle and the light. Grind a feather down and the blue disappears, leaving brown or grey. Kingfishers and jays use the same trick.

4. They're tiny, and tough

A blue tit weighs only about eleven grams. Only 38% of first-year birds survive in Britain, but once they reach breeding age they typically live for about three years. The oldest British blue tit was ten years and three months old.

5. They'll squeeze into any hole in a hard winter

Blue tits usually roost in ivy or evergreens, but in harsh weather they use any small hole they can find, including nest boxes. Their numbers across Europe rose by about 30% between 1980 and 2016, and in Scandinavia the northern edge of their range moved north by 500 kilometres.

A little blue tit folklore

People say blue tits are associated with love and hope, and sailors used to see them as a sign of good luck and a reminder of home. They were once known as tom tits, and a group of them is called a banditry.

What blue tits like to eat, and where

Blue tits love sunflower hearts, kibbled peanuts and suet pellets, which are in every one of our seasonal blends. Offer them in a Little Lantern seed feeder filled with our seasonal bird food, hung somewhere with a little cover nearby. A nest box in autumn gives them somewhere to roost in a hard winter too. If you are not sure which feeder suits your garden, our feeding quiz will point you in the right direction.

Want to keep track of the blue tits in your garden? Amidst the Birdsong: A Garden Birdwatcher's Journal is made for exactly that.

Want to read about more garden birds? See all the birds in this series.

While you're here

Because there's always something worth knowing about the birds in your garden.
Clare Cahill

Thank you for reading!

Clare Cahill is a bird enthusiast with a passion for observing and learning. While she definitely doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the calm and connection that comes from letting a little wildness into our everyday lives.

About A Little Bird Co.

The seasonal bird food brand

We're a little company, supporting little birds. Find out more about what sets us apart.

  • What to feed the birds in summer

    Seasonal

    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

  • Child holding bag of seasonal A Little Bird Co. bird food.

    Sustainable

    Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We don't farm, process, and transport cheap filler ingredients that birds simply kick to the floor. Instead, we focus on premium ingredients they love. Our packaging is compostable, and our bird feeders and nest boxes are tested for durability and longevity.

  • Songbird

    We design our food and select our range of feeders with little birds in mind. Every ingredient in our blends is chosen because small birds love it, simplifying your bird feeding routine. Our feeders provide safe access to food while helping to keep out larger, more dominant species. Look out for robins, blue tits, wrens, finches and more visiting your garden for our food.

  • Support

    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

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From our popular seasonal bird food to the Squirrel Buster squirrel resistant bird feeder, our range is designed to help you to create a haven for little birds in your garden.