A Garden Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Great Tit

2 min read
A Garden Birdwatcher’s Guide to the Great Tit

Great tits are some of the most frequently spotted birds at feeders. These intelligent woodland birds have readily adapted to our gardens, happily making themselves at home in our nest boxes (some have been found building their nests in a post box!) and feasting at our bird tables where they will fight off smaller birds to get access to food. Great tits are sedentary birds, rarely moving far from the territory they were born into and staying put throughout the colder months. They eat butterflies, beetles, spiders and small hibernating bats in Summer and go for seeds and berries in winter, and they use a technique known as “hold-hammering” to break their way into food. Nuts and insects are pinned down using the feet and the great tit will strike at the food with their bill to remove unwanted parts. They are well known for their two- note “tee-chu” song of which there are forty variations, and the males with the biggest vocal repertoire generally have the most luck with the ladies. During nesting season, the male will seek out a selection of nesting spots for his mate to choose from, and the pair will often re-use the same area in subsequent years. Although great tits are socially monogamous, some of the female’s 5-11 eggs will be fathered by other males. Great tits monitor sunlight levels and temperature to carefully time their nesting to coincide with caterpillar hatching to ensure plenty of food for their young, and the male and female work together to keep the chicks well fed and the nest clean before they fledge after around twenty days.

If you aren’t sure how to distinguish between a great tit and a blue tit, take a look at the size, behaviour and colouring. Great tits are larger than blue tits and in our garden I find they are less skittish in their movements. Great tits have a black head (the blue tit has a bright blue cap and a blue-black stripe across the eyes), and great tits have a wide, black stripe down their centreparts.

Ready to deepen your connection with the birds in your garden? Discover more about your feathered friends and how to attract them to your space with Amidst the Birdsong: A Garden Birdwatcher's Journal. This beautifully crafted journal is the perfect companion for anyone looking to observe and learn about the birds visiting their garden. Start your birdwatching journey today – click here to learn more.

Thank you for reading!

Clare Cahill is an enthusiastic bird lover with a passion for observing and learning about the incredible variety of birds around us. While she doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated countless 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 wonderful birds that share our spaces.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.