5 things you might not know about the great tit

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

Great tits are bold, bossy and clever, and they get away with it. Here are five things about them that surprised me.

1. They sometimes hunt bats

In 2009, great tits were reported killing roosting pipistrelle bats and eating their brains, the first time a songbird had been recorded preying on bats. It only happens in winter, when the bats are hibernating.

2. They have up to forty calls

A great tit has up to forty different calls and songs, mostly given by the males. The more varied a male's song, the better his chances with females. In cities, great tits sing at a higher pitch than country birds, apparently so they can be heard over low-frequency traffic noise.

3. They use tools and hammers

Great tits have been recorded using a conifer needle to pick larvae out of a hole in a tree. They also use a technique called hold-hammering, pinning a nut under their feet and hammering it with the bill, and can get into a hazelnut in about twenty minutes.

4. They eat a lot in a hard winter

In very cold winters great tits can eat up to 44% of their own body weight in sunflower seeds in a day. In summer they are useful allies: a 2007 study found they cut caterpillar damage in apple orchards by as much as 50%.

5. The stripe on his belly matters

A great tit's black belly stripe is broader on males than on females, whose stripe is narrower and sometimes broken. Females seem to prefer males with the widest stripe, but it doesn't guarantee loyalty: in one German study 40% of nests held chicks fathered by a male other than the breeding male. Chicks are independent just eight days after fledging.

A little great tit folklore

In folklore, great tits are thought to carry the souls of the dead, while in Japan they are symbols of protection and good fortune. Folklore around them is thin on the ground, so I like to think they were too busy hammering nuts to be noticed.

What great tits like to eat, and where

Great tits are among the most frequent visitors to feeders. They 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, and don't be surprised if they chase off smaller birds. 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 great 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.

Join our flock of bird enthusiasts who share a passion for sustainable and thoughtful bird feeding.

Start Your Bird Food Subscription

Shop our bestsellers

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.