Green conservation status

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Latin name

Cyanistes caeruleus

Family

Tits (Paridae)

Overview

Its colourful mix of blue, yellow, white and green make the blue tit one of the most attractive resident garden birds. Almost any garden with a peanut feeder will attract them and they readily breed in nestboxes. In winter they form flocks with other tit species and a garden with four or five at a bird table at any one time, may be feeding 20 or more.

Where to see them

A common woodland and garden bird, also seen along hedgerows and in most places with trees and bushes.

When to see them

All year round.

What they eat

Insects, caterpillars, seeds and nuts.

Estimated numbers

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
20-44 million pairs3,535,000 territories15 million birds-

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

Key

In the UK
All UK
In Europe
All Europe
Worldwide
Europe, N Africa and Near East

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Find out more

Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100)

2 illustrations

Illustrations
Blue tit

Blue tit

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